Charles Woodbridge helped attempt to rescue Michael H. Garrett from suffocation, Atlin, British Columbia, July 24, 1996. Garrett, 33, descended about 100 feet into the vertical shaft of an abandoned, underground gold mine, then called for help as he was being overcome by carbon monoxide in the shaft. His companions entered the mine and attached a rope and safety belt to him, but Garrett snagged on the mine structure when they then attempted to pull him to the surface. Despite knowing of the presence of the gas, Woodbridge, 47, miner, who had been on the premises visiting Garrett and his party, descended a series of ladders in the dark and wet shaft to Garrett. Woodbridge freed Garrett, enabling the men at the surface to pull him toward the top of the shaft. Woodbridge then climbed the ladders toward the surface of the mine but was himself overcome by the gas and lost consciousness at a point about 65 feet below the top. His teen-aged son and two of Garrett’s companions maneuvered Woodbridge closer to the surface before having to leave for air. A responding police constable entered the shaft with Woodbridge’s son and maneuvered Woodbridge the remaining distance to the surface. Woodbridge was revived with oxygen at the scene, then was flown to a hospital, where he was detained a day for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning and a fractured rib. Garrett died; he had fallen to the bottom of the shaft while his companions were attempting to remove him.
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