Publications
Partners
Dr Jon Andrews
Search and rescue teams at the Impala Mine – where two miners have been trapped for three days now – have spotted a body but are still unable to reach it.
The person is not responsive and the rescue team is at this stage fearing the worst.
The two miners have been trapped at Impala Mine’s shaft 1 since Tuesday morning when a fall of ground happened.
There were nine miners at level 18 of the shaft which is said to be 1200m underground - but seven managed to escape when they first heard the sound of falling rocks.
Health and safety executive for Impala, Dr Jon Andrews, told City Press today that about six highly skilled search and rescue teams have been working around the clock to get to the two men.
“We have made big progress overnight to try and get to our two rock drill operators but it’s being hampered by the size of the rocks.
“They have established a hole through one of the falls. What that has enabled them to do is to look through that hole to an area that has not been affected by the fall of ground.
“There is still quite a large area that is unaffected and still supported. Unfortunately there is no indication there of anybody, which we were hoping for.
At the one corner they can see a mine overall and rescue pack. We believe that is one of our colleagues there. He is not responding to visual or audio signals. So I am afraid we are fearing the worst there.”
Both families have been notified. One is from South Africa and the other has arrived early this morning from Lesotho. Both have been receiving counselling and are understandably traumatised.
Andrews remains hopeful that despite the odds being stacked against them.
