went searching for gold. but wound up trapped for more than two days at the bottom of that dark and narrow hole. the actions of folks standing here with me and many others who are not present saved a life yesterday. in a very challenging circumstance that had incredibly dangerous dynamics. reporter: according to authorities, john waddell rappelled halfway down the 100-foot shaft, lost control and plunged 50 feet to the bottom, breaking both legs. his leg s broke all to hell. he s going to have to have somebody to rappel down in there. reporter: making matters worse, his friend says waddell landed in a rattlesnake den. three of them he said he killed, i guess. reporter: waddell clung to life inside that shaft until his friend, terry shrader, came to the rescue and called 911. he had called me monday and told me he was coming to the mine. and we always had a deal, well, if he s not back by tuesday reporter: then shrader would go looking for him. a deal that may have s