RANDSBURG, Calif. -- Kern County fire crews spent New Year's Eve rescuing a child trapped inside an abandoned mine shaft in the high desert near Randsburg.

Firefighters said a child was taking pictures at the entrance to an old mine when he slipped and fell 50 feet down a vertical shaft.

Crews arrived within 20 minutes and lowered a paramedic, along with four other firefighters, down the shaft to rescue the child.

The boy was brought up and taken to an area hospital.