Maskhill Mine - collapse reported in entrance shaft 16/11/23

[DCA]

A report of a collapse in the entrance shaft of Maskhill Mine near Castleton was received by DCA at dinner time on 16/11/2023. Around the level of the 3rd rebelay, a caver stood on a ledge which then collapsed under them and sent large rocks falling down the shaft and left an unsupported area of deads in the shaft wall. Thankfully no one was injured but it appears there remains a risk of further collapse.
DCA would urge cavers to stay away from the mine for now until a safety inspection of the shaft can be completed. We'll update here and on the Cave Registry when we know more details.

Castleton : Maskhill Mine : Details

Locations: Peak District, Location: Derbyshire, Location: Staffordshire, Caves, Mines, Potholes, Caving, Potholing, Guides, Surveys, Speleology, Hydrology

www.peakdistrictcaving.info

Thanks to the cavers involved for reporting the issue promptly and allowing DCA to disseminate a warning quickly.
Pete Knight, DCA Projects/Equipment Officer

 

[2xw]

Anyone got any pics?

 

[Pete K]

Not yet. The next thing on our jobs list after this week will be to send in a couple of probes with a camera and assess what needs doing to make it all safe again.

 

[DCA]

This collapse is being sorted this week. Update to follow.
PK

 

[DCA]

The remaining deads have been removed and the ledge cleared. Rocks from the fall have been cleared lower down and the team who were in today proclaim the place is as safe again now as it ever was (i.e. not great!).
Thanks to Fabian Ehlers and Chris Hibberts for the work today. DCA might look at the anchor locations again in here in future, but for now we'll see how things go.
PK

 

[paul]

Excellent news!