El Paso Man Rescued From New Mexico Mineshaft

An El Paso man was rescued from a crater in southern New Mexico after his son reported he apparently fell while rappelling.

The Border Patrol says William Snyder, 47, suffered cuts and was complaining of back pain when members of the agency’s search, rescue and trauma team rescued him Monday morning from a cavern about 4 feet wide and 100 feet deep at Aden Crater.

“I was going to go after him, but I decided not to, it was a little too dangerous for me,” Talon Snyder, his son, said. His father had rappelled down

With only one bar of battery left on his phone, Talon called 911.

The Border Patrol says Snyder was airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso but that his injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

Aden Crater is an ancient volcano. Snyder is an avid hiker and animal lover. The El Paso veterinarian set out to explor the cave to get a glimpse of a rare sloth.

Rescuers advise hikers to never get complacent because the desert is unforgiving.