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Gleision deaths: Son of miner knew 'there was no chance' | Gleision deaths: Son of miner knew 'there was no chance' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The son of one of the four men who died when a Swansea Valley mine flooded has told Swansea Crown Court he "knew straight away there was no chance for them boys". | The son of one of the four men who died when a Swansea Valley mine flooded has told Swansea Crown Court he "knew straight away there was no chance for them boys". |
Surface worker Andrew Giles, the son of David Powell, 50, said he was in shock when he realised what had happened. | Surface worker Andrew Giles, the son of David Powell, 50, said he was in shock when he realised what had happened. |
Garry Jenkins, 39, Philip Hill, 44, and Charles Breslin, 62, also died at the Gleision mine near Pontardawe. | Garry Jenkins, 39, Philip Hill, 44, and Charles Breslin, 62, also died at the Gleision mine near Pontardawe. |
Manager Malcolm Fyfield and the mine's owners MNS deny manslaughter charges. | Manager Malcolm Fyfield and the mine's owners MNS deny manslaughter charges. |
On the day of the disaster, 15 September 2011, Mr Giles said he heard a colleague, Nigel Evans, running out of the mine shouting. | On the day of the disaster, 15 September 2011, Mr Giles said he heard a colleague, Nigel Evans, running out of the mine shouting. |
"We stopped everything we were doing and ran around to Nigel and he said straight away to phone the police and mine rescue," he told the court. | "We stopped everything we were doing and ran around to Nigel and he said straight away to phone the police and mine rescue," he told the court. |
Mr Giles called the emergency services at 09:21 BST, the court was told. | Mr Giles called the emergency services at 09:21 BST, the court was told. |
He said: "I couldn't speak for long because I knew my father was down there... I was in shock." | He said: "I couldn't speak for long because I knew my father was down there... I was in shock." |
He then went into the mine through the main entrance with Nigel Evans. | He then went into the mine through the main entrance with Nigel Evans. |
"The water level was so much I knew straight away there was no chance for them boys," he told the court. | "The water level was so much I knew straight away there was no chance for them boys," he told the court. |
By the time Mr Giles returned to the surface mine manager Mr Fyfield had managed to escape. | By the time Mr Giles returned to the surface mine manager Mr Fyfield had managed to escape. |
The court has previously heard that Mr Fyfield was one of seven men working in the mine at the time of a controlled explosion and survived after he crawled out through sludge and dirt. | The court has previously heard that Mr Fyfield was one of seven men working in the mine at the time of a controlled explosion and survived after he crawled out through sludge and dirt. |
'Like a ghost' | |
The explosion had been carried out on as part of the mining process and the water swept through a closed-off section of the mine, the court has previously been told. | The explosion had been carried out on as part of the mining process and the water swept through a closed-off section of the mine, the court has previously been told. |
Mr Fyfield was "shaking, looking like a ghost, white as anything," Mr Giles said. | Mr Fyfield was "shaking, looking like a ghost, white as anything," Mr Giles said. |
The manager had another miner's lamp as well as his own. | The manager had another miner's lamp as well as his own. |
Under cross examination, Mr Giles recalled what he later told police and confirmed he described Mr Fyfield as a "really tidy guy". | Under cross examination, Mr Giles recalled what he later told police and confirmed he described Mr Fyfield as a "really tidy guy". |
Asked if he got on with Mr Fyfield, he replied: "Yeah, I did get on well with him". | Asked if he got on with Mr Fyfield, he replied: "Yeah, I did get on well with him". |
The court has also been told water was always present at the mine. | The court has also been told water was always present at the mine. |
On Thursday the court heard Mr Giles has been underground with Mr Fyfield on one occasion to check the water level in the older workings. | On Thursday the court heard Mr Giles has been underground with Mr Fyfield on one occasion to check the water level in the older workings. |
He was asked if he had seen water there. | He was asked if he had seen water there. |
"No, I could hear it. It was like a waterfall," he replied. | "No, I could hear it. It was like a waterfall," he replied. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |