Miner dies after colliery roof collapse

A MINER trapped in a colliery died last night.

He became trapped when a roof fell in the Kellingley Colliery, near Knottingley, West Yorkshire, UK Coal confirmed last night..

Another miner who was trapped by his leg was rescued and treated.

Speaking outside the mine, Gareth Williams, the managing director for coal mining for UK Coal, said: “Colleagues successfully recovered one of the two employees trapped by the lower leg. He is now on the surface.

“UK Coal regrets to confirm the second colleague was confirmed dead by our own team, despite our best efforts.

“No names are going to be released at the moment.”

Mr Williams said the company’s thoughts were with the family of the miner.

While the rescue was going on, family members who did not know if loved ones were involved gathered at the mine entrance, some of them in tears.

The colliery is the largest remaining deep mine in Yorkshire.

Its two main shafts are about 800 metres deep. Only one of the shafts is used by miners, the other is used to transport coal.

It supplies local power stations and produces some household coal.

The drama follows the tragedy in south Wales earlier this month when four men died after flooding in the Gleision Colliery in Cilybebyll, Pontardawe.

North Yorkshire Police said the man who died was aged in his 40s.

The injured man, also in his 40s, was taken to hospital. His injuries were not described as serious.

A police spokeswoman said: “A joint investigation into the incident will be carried out by Specialist Mine Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive and North Yorkshire Police.”