Even as the Nation mourned with the families who had lost their dear ones in the Pike River Mine disaster, the questions that were being asked in Greymouth were, “How long will the Recovery process take?’ and “Would there be any Recovery at all?”
The first explosion occurred on November 19 in the far deep tunnel and the coal dust sprung in both directions, travelling 2.3 km to reach the mineshaft entrance.
Two miners managed to come out. Daniel Rockhouse was on a loader halfway into the mine at the time of the blast. He was thrown off the vehicle, but was able put on his breathing apparatus and on his way up, dragged Russell Smith, who was lying unconscious.
It was then presumed that the lives of the remaining 29 miners were at risk.
Grieving families
The second explosion that occurred on November 24, apparently due to the accumulated the flammable gases in the Mine, worsened fears.
None could console the grieving mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, wives and partners. We ourselves were in a state of shock and grief.
“Bring my child home to bury him,” Pip Timms screamed.
She was among the many who watched the video footage of the Mine blast, a shot that travelled 2.3 km from its origin where most Miners were working.
I was among the hundreds of Media persons from around the world who watched the footage that night, while reporting the disaster for Indian Newslink.
The power of the explosion, which sent coal dust shooting up the tunnel for 52 seconds, confirmed Ms Timms’ gut feeling that her Christchurch born 17-year-old son could not have survived.
”I just wanted to see if we could bring him out; bring him home to bury him. I know, I probably shouldn’t have said that but, I have accepted that”, she said, weeping like a child.
No one could console the grieving mother, but almost everyone hugged her at the Press Conference. After the second explosion, she just sat in a couch, looking at a photo of her “cuddly, lovable and loving son.”
First & Last Day
It was Joseph’s first day in the mine. He had been posted at the far end of the shaft face for his assignment with senior miners. Ms Timms was not optimistic at all, but just thought her Joseph could come back home.
She was perhaps dreaming about the day, when they would meet at the farthest unknown shore, the joyous and the most peaceful place and hug her loving son forever.
Lawrie Drew, whose 21-year-old son Zen was among the missing men had also watched the video footage.
“You could have heard a pin-drop. It showed just how explosive that was, considering that shaft was 2.3 km long and to come out like it did.”
He said, the footage was “informative and enlightening”, but hoped that the men could be saved.
”I really wanted my boy back, but now I understand, it is not something that would happen,” he said.
Hoping for a Miracle
Greymouth District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn, whose fellow Councillor Milton John was among the miners under the earth was ”hoping for a miracle.” But his hopes vapourised at 237pm (on November 24), the darkest moment when the second explosion occurred. He called people from around New Zealand and the world to the Memorial Service at the Omato Race Course, which looks out to the Paparoa Range where the Mine is located.
“We want to get in behind these families and show them how much we care for them”, he said.
Pike River Chief Executive Peter Whittal, a miner with more than 33 years of experience, said the video footage was “a strong and very sobering symbol,” captured by the same camera that filmed the men arriving for their shift on that Black Friday.
Jo Smith said her husband Russell was “numb,” and felt guilty of survival. He wanted to die with his mates in that dark hole in the deep earth.
We can imagine how attached they would be while working together in the remote loneliness of the deep and dark tunnel down in the earth, far down from the normal earth surface where we live and work normally and socialise.
Food for miners
District Police Commander Gary Knowles, who led the Rescue operation said after the first explosion, “We need to be aware that the likelihood of life is diminishing and we have to be frank about the situation.
”It is bleak, it is grave and you have to understand that the risk posed by a second explosion is real”. What he had anticipated came true, with two explosions.
Police Minister Judith Collins was sure about the decision she made, not to send a Rescue Team immediately after the accident, as she did not want to risk the Rescue crew.
Mr Whittal was almost sure that the 29 miners would not be sitting together, waiting to be rescued and brought out of the mine. But he wanted to rescue them if possible.
Dehydration was the biggest threat for the trapped miners and hope faded by each passing day. There was fresh water in the mine but no food. The miners had taken their lunch packs with them, hoping to return home for dinner.
Heat exhaustion could cause muscle ache and hot air could wreak havoc on the lungs, even from the first day. The lives of the miners were in danger, even without the first explosion.
Coal could be burning inside the mine, releasing a cocktail of gases such as methane and carbon monoxide.
I asked Mr Key and Opposition Leader Phil Goff as to why there was no stock of imperishable food in the Mine, which could have been a lifesaver if the explosions had not occurred.
Mr Key replied, “They had water supply. They did not die starving, the explosions killed them”.
Mr Goff said, “A valid question that needs to be answered”.
“What if the rich coal deposits caught fire and keep burning indefinitely?”
Mr Key said, “There was no fire, only gas explosions.”
Mr Whittal said, “That is the last thing we want.”
Community shocked
I met many grieving people in Greymouth and Hokitia, including Mr Kokshoorn, West-Coast Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole, President of the Labour Party and the National Mine Workers Union Andrew Little, St Mary’s Parish Priest Father Jolly.
I also met managers at the Tourist Information Centre and restaurants.
Their brief comment was, “Heartbreaking.”
Prime Minister John Key said a Memorial Service would be held in Christchurch.
It was later announced that it would be held at 1 pm on December 6 at the Christchurch Cathedral.
Editor’s Note: Dr George Abraham is our Christchurch based Correspondent. He travelled to Greymouth three times during the week of anxiety and tension to attend press conferences and speak to officials and members of the affected families. Indian Newslink offers its sincere condolences to the families, friends and associates of the 29 miners who are now feared dead and prays that the departed souls rest in peace.
