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Real-Life Indiana Jones Battles Rattlesnakes While Stuck Down A Mining Shaft

Real-Life Indiana Jones Battles Rattlesnakes While Stuck Down A Mining Shaft

… for THREE days.

EMS 7

EMS 7

A man in Arizona did his best Indiana Jones impression this week after falling down a 100-foot mine shaft on Monday.

The poor dude was trapped in there for three whole days before a friend arrived to the area and heard him screaming out for help.

According to BuzzFeed News, John Waddell, 62, was found dehydrated and with broken bones in the Maricopa County mine shaft.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Despite his age, John put up a good fight, mentally and literally - having to kill three rattlesnakes in order to avoid getting bitten.

Mike Balowski, 67, a friend of John's said: "John is a tough SOB."

He explained that his buddy used to be a miner and had travelled to his property in Aguila to search for 'old artifacts, semi-precious stones, some precious metals'.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Roger Yensen from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue Posse - who led the rescue team that pulled John to safety - went on to explain that he had lowered himself into one of the two mines in the property area that hadn't been explored for a while, and that 'he just lost the ability to control the friction on the descent down the rope'.

Luckily he'd already warned his neighbour, Terry Shrader, that if he wasn't back by Tuesday to come look for him.

Terry arrived at the property on Wednesday at 1pm (bit slack Terry) to find John shouting from the mine shaft.

In an interview with ABC 15, Terry expressed guilt for not turning up sooner, adding: "As I pulled out my truck I could hear him hollering, 'Help, help!'"

He swiftly left the dessert in order to get phone service and call the emergency services, who rushed to the scene and managed to pull John out after a three-hour rescue mission.

If you're wondering how a 62-year-old survived three days down a ten-foot wide mine shaft with little sunlight, Mike said John is a Vietnam-era veteran and that 'he was relying on his military experience for survival skills'.

Impressive stuff. He's suffered some injuries including dehydration, broken bones and a friction burn on his hands from the rope, although he went into surgery for these on Thursday and is said to be doing well.

Get well soon, John.

Featured Image Credit: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Topics: News, Interesting