It is more than just taking a bad fall. Many of these mines emit toxic gases and if someone fell into one that is burning, the temperatures are hot and they would be severely burned.

The state has demanded maps from mining companies from the beginning, so there is a good map library. But, those maps were mainly a way for the state to collect royalties. That means that some shafts were not mapped.

It extends over 100 feet and is about 200 feet wide.

When they were done mining, they used to dump old stumps, car bodies, slop that they didn't want into the entry and cover it up. That only lasts 30 to 50 years.

They are looking at their GPS devices and may not see a collapsed mine and fall into it.

He apparently was overcome by the variety of toxic gases and the oxygen deprivation that likely occurred.