Man dies at abandoned mine in Breathitt County

A death investigation is underway after a man died at an abandoned mine about 60 miles southeast of Lexington.

The Breathitt County coroner said his office was called Thursday night to Mine Shaft Road between Jackson and Prestonburg. 

The coroner said that 45-year-old John Mullins of Magoffin County and his cousin were searching for ginseng and yellowroot near an old mine, and both entered it.

The cousin told investigators Mullins went deeper into the mine, and after about 10 minutes had passed, he yelled at Mullins. The cousin said Mullins started to come back out but the mine collapsed.

Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The coroner said Mullins’ body was sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort.