Miner survives ordeal under fall of coal

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 2

Miner survives ordeal under fall of coal

(Xeui Zealand Press Association)

GREYMOUTH, January 29. \ West Coast miner, Mr George Menzies, has survived being trapped under about 80 tons of coal for two hours and a half.

Mr Menzies was on his own in the Kiwi private mine in Ten Mile Valley, north of Grey mouth. His workmate had just gone around the corner while Mr Menzies was setting up a water jet to wash coal from the face. Suddenly the work area “bumped” and the side of the mine face fell out on top of him. "I was very lucky.” said Mr Menzies. “It was so unexpected. "A ‘bump’ is quite common. It is just a distribution of weight but this type of fall in our mine is uncommon. “I could not get away fast

i enough when the coal came ■away. There was about three I feet of coal over my head 'and of course it was pitch black. I could not open my eves anvway because of the coal. “I was lucky that my 1 mouth was free so that 1 Icould breathe and shout.” I LUMPS LAST Mr Menzies was pushed face down w'ith one leg doubled up under him, and ihe could not move. I “1 was lucky that the small coal came away first. The big lumps were on top ofjhe pile. If the big stuff

had come down first 1 don’t think I would be here now,” he said. “I must have been in a daze first. Then I heard some noises and yelled out, but no-one answered. “1 could not talk too much because it used up the air but I was doing a lot pf hoping,” he said. ALL HELPED About 18 miners, the full work force from the four other private mines in the valley, helped in the rescue. “I was gasping for breath by the time they got to me. My four workmates would not have got me out in time by themselves. I can’t thank the others enough for coming straight to the mine as soon as they heard of the accident. It was comforting to know that I had the best men in the business getting me out,” he said. While some miners dug for Mr Menzies, others brought supports and made the area

I safe to prevent any more (coal from coming away. i As the rescuers got closer they called and Mr Menzies ■answered them. ! “I never got knocked out (at any stage but it was a I little hard to remember things. “Air was my main thought as I was starting to gasp for breath,” he said. His legs were numb and he was in pain by the time the coal was cleared awayi from his head. NO BONES BROKEN

Mr Menzie was taken to the hospital outpatients’ section and later went home. His back and one leg were badly bruised but no bones were broken. He said today that he would be off work for three weeks or a month, but he intended to go back to the mine. Mr Menzies is a national Rugby league selector and former Kiwi representative.