A tour guide has died after visitors became trapped in a 1,000-foot-deep gold mine in Colorado. What happened?

A tour guide was identified Friday as the person who died after an elevator malfunctioned at a former Colorado gold mine, trapping more than a dozen guests 1,000 feet underground for about seven hours, authorities said.

The group of tourists was about halfway to the bottom of the Mollie Kathleen gold mine in the town of Cripple Creek when an unspecified mechanical failure occurred near noon Thursday during a trip that usually takes two minutes.

Ten tourists, including two children, were quickly rescued from the elevator, and four of them were treated for minor injuries, according to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. An 11th person in the elevator died, identified Friday as tour guide Patrick Weier, 46. The novice volunteer firefighter left behind a 7-year-old child, Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham said at a news conference.

After the elevator malfunctioned, a separate group of 12 people who had been waiting below with another guide became stuck in the mine for several hours.

On Thursday afternoon, Mikesell said the 12 people stuck in the shaft had access to the water and were in contact with authorities on the ground via two-way radio before the elevator was reopened.

According to Mikesell, who said an investigation has been launched into the fatal incident, rescuers stand ready to pull trapped guests to the surface using ropes if they fail to restart the elevator. The cause is believed to be a mechanical problem related to a door failure that is currently under investigation, officials said Friday.

Mikesell said the situation, which was successfully resolved on Thursday evening, created a “serious danger” to people stuck in the mine.

“I am relieved that the 12 people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen mine were safely rescued,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement after the ordeal. “We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the person who died in this incident.”

This week was supposed to be the last week of the mine before the season closed. On Friday, the mine’s website informed visitors: “Mollie Kathleen recently experienced a tragic event. We would like to send our prayers and condolences to everyone involved. We would also like to thank all the rescue services and rescuers who helped us during this difficult time. Mollie Kathleen will be closed until further notice.”

Although the mine is no longer operational, it has been providing tours for “well over 50 years,” Mikesell said. On Friday, he described the family who runs the mine as a tourist attraction as “good people” and said the incident was “just a very tragic event.”

The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine offers visitors the opportunity to “experience the ‘Old West’ as it was for hard-rock gold prospectors at the ‘World’s Largest Gold Camp.’ The one-hour tour costs $30 for adults and $18 for children. The “Need to Know” section of the attraction’s page is labeled “Claustrophobia” and states that “the tour itself is not claustrophobic, but the descent down the shaft is very close and takes 2 minutes (each way).” However, he adds encouragingly: “You can do it(!).”

According to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, all mines in the state that welcome tourists must be inspected daily for “adequate ventilation, ground conditions and controls, electrical hazards, general mine hazards, etc.”

In a social media post, the local fire department wrote: “We are thrilled to hear that all 12 people still inside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine were safely rescued. “We are grateful for the work of all the rescue services who ensured the safety of those inside. Our condolences to the family who lost a loved one this evening. Please remember them in your prayers.”