Wanganui radio host's mine blast heartache

For Wanganui radio host Phil Lemon, Wednesday, November 24, 2010 will remain etched in his memory and on his heart forever.
It will hold the memory of a day that began upbeat and hopeful then crashed into a day so bleak, so miserable no one could believe it.
The Classic Hits morning show host lived on the West Coast, not far from the Pike River mine, for nearly three years before he moved to Wanganui in September.
Yesterday he told the Chronicle he was mates with all 29 miners who perished in the mine disaster. He would see them passing every morning on their way to the mine.
"I lived about nine minutes from the mine as the crow flies."
On Friday after that first explosion at Pike River he was sent by radio bosses to host Sceneland Radio FM in Greymouth because he knew the Coast, knew the people.
Mr Lemon admitted his heart was in his mouth that Saturday morning as he drove from Christchurch airport across Arthur's Pass to the West Coast.
"But I'm pleased I had that drive to get my head straight and think it through. I needed to think ... those guys were all friends, I knew them all."
He had worked with the Pike River Mine Company on several campaigns, including the Health and Safety Movember campaign in November 2009.
"All the guys grew moustaches ... it was a great campaign."
He was struggling to comprehend the events of Wednesday, he said.
"We started out, we were all feeling great - you know, the bore hole had been drilled through, the robots ... it was looking so positive. Then there was that second explosion ... a killer ... total devastation ..."
Yesterday morning's breakfast show was the hardest broadcast he had done or was ever likely to do, he said.
"I went into work on Wednesday night to look at the playlist to make sure there was absolutely nothing inappropriate in any of the lyrics in the music selection."
Coasters rang and texted in throughout the show, he said.
And when Amazing Grace was played - the huge bagpipe version - people stopped in the town streets, and some fell to their knees or wept.
"The sadness ... just indescribable ... sad, really, really sad."
Over the past five days there could not have been anyone better at the helm than Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall, Mr Lemon said.
"No one could have done a better job. He's a marvellous man, and everyone in Greymouth loves him, they really do."
He was less than impressed with the attitude and manner of international media crews.
They were the rudest, crassest people you could ever wish to meet, he said.
"They just didn't care who they upset."
When Peter Williams of TV One came on one morning he said he had never seen press conferences like it.
"He was pretty rattled."
Mr Lemon will be back on air in Wanganui on Monday, December 6.