South African police have ended a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine where hundreds of illegal miners were trapped for months and say they believe they have rescued all the survivors and retri

One hundred and eighteen illegal miners have been extracted from the Stilfontein mine in South Africa on Monday and Tuesday as part of a rescue operation, of which 36 were certified as dead, police said in a statement on Tuesday.

South African police said Wednesday they have ended a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine where scores of illegal miners were trapped and believe they rescued all the survivors and retrieved all the bodies of those who died.

Calling it “an unattended death” aboard the flight, Massachusetts State Police said someone called the Crime Scene Services Section about the death.

Preliminary information suggests Barbara Dipoli, of Topeka, died of a presumed medical episode during the flight, officials said.