Pike river miners may have survived first blast, evidence reveals
April 28th, 2011 - 3:17 pm ICT by ANIGreymouth, (New Zealand), Apr 28 (ANI): Workers who died in New Zealand’s Pike River mine disaster may have survived the first blast, new evidence has revealed.
A video footage shows images of a fully clothed body lying face down in the mine along with a box containing a fire extinguisher, which had been opened.
The families of 29 men, including two Australians, killed in a series of methane blasts on November 19 said the revelation, together with news the mine’s firefighting box had been opened, was a “painful indication” the men may have survived the first explosion.
“Hearing that has made us think ‘maybe there was hope, maybe we should have forced them somehow to get in there earlier and try to save them’,” The Herald Sun quoted, Bernie Monk spokesman for the families, as saying.
However, New Zealand’s Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls has stressed that the footage is hazy and more detailed camera equipment imported from the US was needed to verify the find.
“It is important to note that the images we currently have are not that clear,” Nicholls as saying.
“More refinement and interpretation of what currently appears to be a body is needed.,” Nicholls said.
Meanwhile, a royal commission of inquiry into the disaster is due to get underway in Greymouth on May 24. (ANI)
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Tags: assistant commissioner, australians, blasts, camera equipment, commission of inquiry, fire extinguisher, firefighting, first explosion, greymouth new zealand, herald sun, may 24, methane, miners, monk, new evidence, nicholls, pike river, refinement, revelation, video footage