A mother's anguish for trapped son

Pike River coal mine blast survivor Daniel Rockhouse hugging family members. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The mother of one escaped miner and one still trapped inside Pike River mine is torn between crying in happiness for the safe return of one and crying in anguish for her other son.

Daniel Rockhouse walked out of the mine with minor injuries after the blast but his brother Ben was further down the tunnel and has not been heard from since.

She said Ben would not have panicked.

His father was health and safety officer at the mine, "so the boys have grown up with that being talked about all the time"