Costly Recovery Halts Search for Missing Treasure Hunter in German Mine

Authorities in Annaberg-Buchholz declare the 34-year-old man dead, citing high recovery costs as a barrier to retrieving his body from the mine.

The missing man, known for exploring abandoned mines, disappeared in a 100-year-old silver mine in Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony.
Authorities believe the man was fatally injured after causing a collapse in the mine, where his body is presumed to be buried under 25 meters of debris.
Leichenspürhunde (cadaver dogs) indicated the likely presence of the body in the mine's collapsed area, but its exact location remains undetermined.
Recovery efforts are deemed 'unverhältnismäßig' (disproportionate) due to estimated costs of 380,000 to 400,000 euros, and no mandatory circumstances require retrieval.
The incident highlights the legal ambiguity surrounding unauthorized access to old mining sites in Germany, where such activities are often overlooked.