Student dies in fall at Killingdalsgruva mine in Holtålen

A man in his 20s, identified as an NTNU student, died on Friday afternoon after falling into an air shaft at the decommissioned Killingdalsgruva mine in Holtålen, Trøndelag.

The victim was part of a group of five peers on a private excursion when the accident occurred. The rescue operation was described as difficult due to the depth of the shaft and low oxygen levels. A rope rescue specialist from Trondheim assisted in retrieving the man from a depth of approximately 14 meters, where he was pronounced dead.

Police noted that while the area was secured with fences, covers, and locks, it appears the group may have bypassed these measures to enter the mine. Local authorities have activated psychosocial support teams to assist the surviving companions. The local police are investigating the circumstances of the fall.