Miner trapped in flooded shaft

Rescuers were last night searching for a miner trapped after a West Coast mine flooded.

It is understood two miners were working below ground when the privately owned Black Reef Mine near Greymouth filled with water, trapping them both.

The Mines Rescue Station, which deals with emergencies, sent a crew to help pump out water.

The mine, which is about a kilometre away from the large Spring Creek Mine in Dunollie, was immediately cordoned off.

At 7pm their efforts paid off when one of the miners was rescued, apparently unharmed.

Inspector John Doherty, from the police Southern Communications Centre, said the miner was checked by ambulance staff before being taken to Greymouth Hospital. The miner was in a moderate condition last night.

Mr Doherty said communications in the area were poor but rescue efforts continued last night in an attempt to locate the second miner.

Greymouth Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said he had heard the rescued miner was able to walk to the ambulance but there was no word on his colleague.

He said Black Reef Mine - formerly the Tillers Mine - was a small privately owned mine and there were two men working underground and one above when it flooded.

It was possible the men drilled into an old abandoned mine that was filled with water and that water had flooded the area they were in.

Mr Kokshoorn said the mine was sold about a year ago to a Wanaka property developer.

The new owner could not be reached for comment last night.

Former co-owner John Menzies was understood to be helping at the scene.

Mr Kokshoorn said the mine, which had been operating for at least 20 years, had been prone to flooding over the years although he was not aware of any serious incidents before.

"It's had a good history, I was down there about nine months ago. It was quiet a nice mine actually, if you can say any mine is nice."

Mr Kokshoorn said there was a risk associated with coalmining and people were aware of that.

"It's always on the West Coast, one of those things in the back of your conscious. You never know when something's going to go wrong."

He said the town was last night "waiting and hoping" for a good outcome for the second miner and his family.

"It's one of those things where you are helpless. The only thing you can do is put a pump in the ground and start pumping like hell. It's a waiting game, waiting to see if the people are okay."

He said the incident affected the whole community and everyone felt for the families involved.

"We have all got a bit of a soft spot for the coal miners - it's part of our heritage. When you hear of a problem like this you feel for the families of these guys.

"It's a terrible thing. I mean, you go to work in the morning, you expect to come home."

Mr Kokshoorn said there had been a decrease in mining accidents in the past few years, probably due to the Resource Management Act and tougher health and safety legislation. 
 

Mining Disasters

Brunner Mine 1896
* An explosion left 65 miners dead, and the railway line and trucks twisted and smashed.

Strongman Mine 1967
* A blast killed 19 men.

Mt Davy Mine 1998
* Two men were killed when they were overcome by gas.