Indian-origin man jumps into 100-ft mine shaft to ‘appease gods’

A 28-year-old Indian-American jumped into a 100-foot mine shaft at a meteor impact site in Arizona to "appease the gods" and was pulled out following a massive eight-hour rescue operation.

Parminder Singh, from Union City in California, travelled to Arizona, voluntarily jumped feet-first into the vertical mine shaft on January 11, according to witnesses. Singh was rescued from the floor of the mine shaft at the bottom of Meteor Crater — a meteor impact site and tourist attraction in Northern Arizona, in a massive effort involving more than 30 rescuers from three different agencies, police said Tuesday.

The rescue lasted more than eight hours in temperatures of 20 degrees and below, with a wind chill factor of below zero.

Singh later told police that he intentionally jumped into the shaft in an attempt to "appease the gods". He was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition, the Sheriff Office said.

Singh's jump inside the crater was first noticed by a Meteor Crater park employee at 4 pm local time following which local officials immediately started the work to rescue him.

"At about 8.22 pm rescuers called out to the victim and heard a muffled reply. Due to the freezing temperatures and winds, rescuers were not able to understand what the victim was attempting to tell them," the Coconino County Sheriff Office said in a statement. They lowered supplies including food, water, a portable radio, warm clothing and a flash light to the victim, the Sheriff Office said.

"Once he (Singh) received the supplies, he was able to communicate with his rescuers via the radio. He informed them that he believed he had dislocated and broke his right arm, broke one of his legs, and complained of severe pain to both of his legs. He reported frequent episodes of loss of consciousness," it said.

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