Rescued Spelunker Remains Hospitalized

A 51-year-old spelunker rescued from an abandoned gold mine where he had been trapped for hours remained hospitalized Sunday.

But, a day after his rescue, no other information was available about the amateur cave explorer. His family requested that no details about his condition be released, said a spokeswoman for the Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center.

James Swenson of Acton was hospitalized Saturday evening with cuts and bruises--including a cut on his forehead--after being rescued by a crew of 70 sheriff’s deputies and firefighters.

The ordeal for James Swenson and his son, Jason, 22, began Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.

The two men had been exploring an 800-foot-deep mine just north of Angeles National Forest near North Crown Valley Road and Westcoatt Street in search of gold and owls.

Using the shaft’s built-in ladder, father and son descended about 400 feet, using only ropes with no harnesses or other climbing equipment, authorities said.

As they tried to return to the surface, the ladder started to crumble and the elder Swenson fell.

After the fall, James Swenson was able to climb about 50 feet to an 8-foot ledge where he remained trapped 150 feet below the mine’s opening.

Using a system of ropes and pulleys, rescuers hauled Swenson to the surface almost seven hours later.

The unmarked mine--resembling little more than a hole on the side of a hill--is a local hangout for teenagers, which the younger Swenson said he had entered numerous times.