Firefighters wearing breathing gear rescued a man overcome by fumes in an abandoned mine shaft in the Otago township of Kaitangata yesterday.
Quentin Proctor, 20, was attempting to abseil down the shaft with two friends when he was overcome by fumes and became unconscious.
The friends tried tohelp him but backed off after they nearly passed out due to the fumes, Inspector Michael Coulter said.
The incident occurred at about 5.15pm.
Two fire officers with breathing apparatus were lowered down the shaft and were able to bring Mr Proctor up safely.
He was treated by Ambulance staff before being flown to Dunedin Hospital for further treatment.
Mr Coulter said the incident was a reminder about the dangers of abandoned mine shafts, which should not be entered.
The shafts can have either methane gas or "black air", which is lack of oxygen.
Kaitangata is about 10km south east of Balclutha. Coal mining was the mainstay of the township from the 1870s to 1972 when the last underground mine closed.
