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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kellingley pit death: Company 'at a loss' to explain incident | Kellingley pit death: Company 'at a loss' to explain incident |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| The company which runs a Yorkshire pit where a roof collapse killed a miner and injured another says it is "at a loss" to explain the cause. | The company which runs a Yorkshire pit where a roof collapse killed a miner and injured another says it is "at a loss" to explain the cause. |
| An investigation team from police and the Health and Safety Executive has spent the night underground at Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire. | An investigation team from police and the Health and Safety Executive has spent the night underground at Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire. |
| Andrew McIntosh, UK Coal spokesman, said it was "difficult to say" what had happened. | Andrew McIntosh, UK Coal spokesman, said it was "difficult to say" what had happened. |
| Tuesday's incident is the third death at Kellingley in three years. | Tuesday's incident is the third death at Kellingley in three years. |
| Miner Ian Cameron died after equipment fell on him on 18 October 2009 and in September 2008, Don Cook died in a rock fall. | Miner Ian Cameron died after equipment fell on him on 18 October 2009 and in September 2008, Don Cook died in a rock fall. |
| 'Absolute tragedy' | 'Absolute tragedy' |
| The miner who died on Tuesday was in his 40s and from North Yorkshire. | The miner who died on Tuesday was in his 40s and from North Yorkshire. |
| The second man, who suffered minor injuries, was also in his 40s but from West Yorkshire, police said. He was taken to Pinderfields Hospital for treatment. | The second man, who suffered minor injuries, was also in his 40s but from West Yorkshire, police said. He was taken to Pinderfields Hospital for treatment. |
| Mr McIntosh said: "We're at a loss to know at this stage exactly what's happened. | Mr McIntosh said: "We're at a loss to know at this stage exactly what's happened. |
| "It was a very good face for working conditions, the equipment was brand new so there's nothing immediately that springs to mind but the investigation will obviously look at all of those aspects. | "It was a very good face for working conditions, the equipment was brand new so there's nothing immediately that springs to mind but the investigation will obviously look at all of those aspects. |
| "It's an absolute tragedy." | "It's an absolute tragedy." |
| The mine is on the border of North and West Yorkshire - a mile-and-a-half outside Knottingley - and is one of Britain's deepest remaining coal mines. | The mine is on the border of North and West Yorkshire - a mile-and-a-half outside Knottingley - and is one of Britain's deepest remaining coal mines. |
| The two 2,600ft (800m) shafts were sunk in the late-1950s and production began 1965. | The two 2,600ft (800m) shafts were sunk in the late-1950s and production began 1965. |
| Kellingley, known by miners as "The Big K", has been a major coal producer ever since and at its height employed about 2,000 people. Today about 800 people work there. | Kellingley, known by miners as "The Big K", has been a major coal producer ever since and at its height employed about 2,000 people. Today about 800 people work there. |
| 'Highest standards' | 'Highest standards' |
| Nigel Adams, Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, in whose constituency Kellingley colliery is situated, said: "Very sadly, this is the third death we've had here at Kellingley. | |
| "Coming on the back of the Welsh tragedy it clearly resonates with people how dangerous an industry mining is." | "Coming on the back of the Welsh tragedy it clearly resonates with people how dangerous an industry mining is." |
| Ken Capstick, former vice-president of the National Union of Mineworkers in Yorkshire, said events at Kellingley were "very, very worrying indeed in terms of safety". | Ken Capstick, former vice-president of the National Union of Mineworkers in Yorkshire, said events at Kellingley were "very, very worrying indeed in terms of safety". |
| "We've prided ourselves on being the safest mining industry in the world and so it certainly needs some serious examination," he said. | "We've prided ourselves on being the safest mining industry in the world and so it certainly needs some serious examination," he said. |
| Carol Cameron, whose husband, Ian, died at Kellingley after equipment fell on him in October 2009, said she wanted the pit to close. | Carol Cameron, whose husband, Ian, died at Kellingley after equipment fell on him in October 2009, said she wanted the pit to close. |
| She said: "It should be shut down. How many other men are going to get killed down there? | She said: "It should be shut down. How many other men are going to get killed down there? |
| "I don't think it's safe at all. It can't be or these accidents wouldn't be happening." | "I don't think it's safe at all. It can't be or these accidents wouldn't be happening." |
| Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary and MP for the neighbouring Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford constituency, said she had met unions and management at Kellingley. | Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary and MP for the neighbouring Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford constituency, said she had met unions and management at Kellingley. |
| Ms Cooper said: "Clearly everybody wants to make sure there are the highest standards of safety. | Ms Cooper said: "Clearly everybody wants to make sure there are the highest standards of safety. |
| "When this kind of thing happens, of course you have to make sure that all those questions are answered." | "When this kind of thing happens, of course you have to make sure that all those questions are answered." |