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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Kellingley miner death: Community 'deeply saddened' | Kellingley miner death: Community 'deeply saddened' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| "When you grow up in a mining family any accident of course has a resonance," said Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams. | "When you grow up in a mining family any accident of course has a resonance," said Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Adams' North Yorkshire constituency saw the third death at the Kellingley Colliery since 2008, when miner Gerry Gibson, 49, was trapped by falling debris. | |
| Mr Adams said the incident would "devastate" the tight-knit mining community. | |
| The MP's uncle had worked at the coal mine for 20 years. | The MP's uncle had worked at the coal mine for 20 years. |
| "There is a real bond within the mining community," Mr Adams added. | "There is a real bond within the mining community," Mr Adams added. |
| "Both amongst the workforce, who are extraordinarily skilled and tough men, and the families that support them." | "Both amongst the workforce, who are extraordinarily skilled and tough men, and the families that support them." |
| The Kellingley mine lies on the border of North and West Yorkshire - a mile and a half outside of Knottingley - and is one of Britain's deepest remaining coal mines. | The Kellingley mine lies on the border of North and West Yorkshire - a mile and a half outside of Knottingley - and is one of Britain's deepest remaining coal mines. |
| The two 2,600ft (800m) shafts were sunk in the late-1950s but production did not begin there until 1965. | The two 2,600ft (800m) shafts were sunk in the late-1950s but production did not begin there until 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. | 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. |
| Underground explosion | Underground explosion |
| Today, the mine is operated by UK Coal and has 800 employees. | Today, the mine is operated by UK Coal and has 800 employees. |
| In recent years the pit has seen a number of accidents. | In recent years the pit has seen a number of accidents. |
| In November 2010, 200 workers had to be evacuated from the mine after a methane explosion underground. | In November 2010, 200 workers had to be evacuated from the mine after a methane explosion underground. |
| Carol Cameron, whose husband Ian died after equipment fell on him at Kellingley in October 2009, said it was "awful" that another accident had happened. | Carol Cameron, whose husband Ian died after equipment fell on him at Kellingley in October 2009, said it was "awful" that another accident had happened. |
| "I've hardly slept all night thinking. I know what that poor family feels like," she said. | "I've hardly slept all night thinking. I know what that poor family feels like," she said. |
| "I was told that when all this health and safety business was going to get sorted, it would hopefully prevent this happening again and it hasn't. | "I was told that when all this health and safety business was going to get sorted, it would hopefully prevent this happening again and it hasn't. |
| "It should be shut down. How many other men are going to get killed down there?" | "It should be shut down. How many other men are going to get killed down there?" |
| Betty Cook, whose son Don died in a rock fall at Kellingley in 2008, said she felt mine privatisation meant "profits are put before people". | Betty Cook, whose son Don died in a rock fall at Kellingley in 2008, said she felt mine privatisation meant "profits are put before people". |
| "My tears have flowed all night not only for Donny but for what happened last night," she said. | "My tears have flowed all night not only for Donny but for what happened last night," she said. |
| "We've lost three miners in three years at the same colliery. I think something needs to be looked into." | "We've lost three miners in three years at the same colliery. I think something needs to be looked into." |
| 'Deeply saddened' | 'Deeply saddened' |
| Neighbouring MP Yvette Cooper said the death of Mr Gibson had left people in the area "really distressed" and "deeply saddened". | |
| "Everybody can identify with this and everybody feels the strong sense of both solidarity and deep shock and concern," the MP for Pontefract and Castleford said. | "Everybody can identify with this and everybody feels the strong sense of both solidarity and deep shock and concern," the MP for Pontefract and Castleford said. |
| Ken Capstick, former vice-president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said what had happened was "dreadful". | Ken Capstick, former vice-president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said what had happened was "dreadful". |
| In a message to the dead miner's family, he said: "We are all with you. We are all feeling your pain. | In a message to the dead miner's family, he said: "We are all with you. We are all feeling your pain. |
| "No words can help at this stage, we know that, but we will be with you." | "No words can help at this stage, we know that, but we will be with you." |
| Chris Kitchen, Yorkshire area secretary for the NUM, said the whole workforce was "devastated" and said production at the colliery had been halted as a mark of respect. | Chris Kitchen, Yorkshire area secretary for the NUM, said the whole workforce was "devastated" and said production at the colliery had been halted as a mark of respect. |
| Earlier this month, four men died when a Swansea Valley colliery flooded, trapping them. | Earlier this month, four men died when a Swansea Valley colliery flooded, trapping them. |
| "It's definitely knocked some confidence," Mr Kitchen added. | "It's definitely knocked some confidence," Mr Kitchen added. |
| "Miners are a hardy breed and mining's always a dangerous job and they accept the risks. | "Miners are a hardy breed and mining's always a dangerous job and they accept the risks. |
| "But when things go tragically wrong like this, it knocks people's confidence for six." | "But when things go tragically wrong like this, it knocks people's confidence for six." |
| The Bishop of Wakefield, the Right Reverend Stephen Platten, has said St Edmunds Church at Kellington, the nearest church to the pit, will be open all day on Thursday. | |
| Bishop Platten said: "My prayers and condolences are with all who are affected by this accident, particularly those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. | |
| "The Church will be doing all it can to support the communities and people affected." |