Welsh mine tragedy: Fourth Gleision miner found dead

[jannyk]

Source: BBC

The search for four miners trapped underground in a flooded Swansea Valley colliery has ended with the discovery of the last body. The bodies of Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Garry Jenkins, 39, and Phillip Hill, 45, who all lived locally, were discovered on Friday.

Three other miners managed to escape as the flood water engulfed the drift mine when a retaining wall holding back a body of water underground failed. Two of them then helped in the attempt to save their colleagues, while another was taken to hospital. The body of one miner was located at the bottom of the main shaft at Cilybebyll early on Friday.

It was the end of a desperate race against time to find the four men, which began at 09:15 on Thursday when the emergency services were alerted. The miner now in hospital had walked from the pit to tell rescuers of dragging and swimming through the water to the mine entrance. He had swallowed pit slurry and it is understood he collapsed before being taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea. Divers were sent in to see if they could reach the men but were forced back because debris made the water too murky. Oxygen was also pumped into the mine while sound detection experts tried to listen for signs of life.

The operation continued through the night, but hopes of finding them all alive were dashed when it was announced at 08:30 on Friday that the first body had been found.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14955526

[Brickbat]

1. Damnit. K&R for miners.

[midnight]

2. K&R

[Boudica the Lyoness]

3. So sad

I grew up hearing about my mum's family's experiences with pit collapses in Wales. Horrible.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Horribly sad.

[madrchsod]

5. i`ve never turned down extremely dangerous jobs but...

one thing i`d never do is go into a mine.

they are far better men than i.

[harmonicon]

6. I want people to think about this anytime "clean coal" is mentioned. nt.