Second mine blast wipes out all hope of survival

Second blast ends hope

WARREN GAMBLE, ANDREA VANCE, KEITH LYNCH, GILES BROWN AND MICHAEL FOX

LATEST: Flags will fly at half-mast around New Zealand tomorrow to mark the deaths of the 29 miners in the Pike River tragedy, Prime Minister John Key says.

"We are a nation in mourning," Mr Key said from Parliament.

He said he would visit Greymouth to offer his condolences to the miners' families tomorrow.

Key described the events at the mine as a national tragedy.

FAMILIES DISTRAUGHT

Family members fell to the ground in grief after learning the 29 trapped miners could not have survived a second explosion, marking New Zealand's worst single loss of life since Erebus.

Distraught family members left a scheduled briefing this afternoon, only about 10 minutes after it had started, and many of them were in tears. They had been told their family members - underground since a first massive gas explosion on Friday - could not have survived the second blast.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a vigil tonight at the Holy Trinity Church in Greymouth in honour of the mine disaster victims.

Flanked by son Terry, partner Mandy and wearing 21-year-old Zen's jacket, Lawrie Drew told CloseUp that because he was "in tune" with Zen, he had accepted he was dead before this afternoon's explosion.

Despite that, he had still been hoping for a miracle.

"We just want our loved ones so we can get closure now and then let the process take course," he said.

The families had been clapping just before Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall told them the bad news as they believed progress was being made.

"... then he hushed us up and told us the bomb shell," Mr Drew said.

Most families had "lost it", shouting and asking why rescuers had not gone into the mine on Friday night.

Mr Drew said he felt like he had failed his son because he had been unable to protect him.

He accused the mine of being unsafe and said he wanted an inquiry and to see "the truth come out".

The brother of lost miner Conrad Adams said he just wanted his brother to come home.

"Conrad Adams is down the mine and he's my brother. It's just a terrible thing to have to think about. He's my brother and he's got two children he loves more than anything in the world. And his mother. And he has a sister whose very dear to him. He's an uncle, he's a brother-in-law and we just all want him to come home,'' Clayton Adams said.

His older brother Conrad was extremely popular on the coast, Clayton said.  ``He's a huge presence, I guess, in my life. We've met people throughout the last couple of days and they say, 'I know your brother. Everyone knows Conrad. I had a laugh with him just the other day','' he said.

A NATIONAL TRAGEDY

Prime Minister John Key tonight described the deaths of 29 miners and contractors in the Pike River mine disaster as a "national tragedy".

In speech notes to a media conference at the Beehive he said the whole country had been "devastated by the news that we have all been dreading".

"A second explosion at the Pike River Mine confirms our very worst fears.

"The 29 men whose names and faces we have all come to know, will never walk amongst us again.

"This is a national tragedy.

"A tragedy for the men's families, their workmates and friends, their community and our nation.

"New Zealand is a small country.

"A country where we are our all our brother's keeper.

"So to lose this many brothers at once strikes an agonising blow.

"Today, all New Zealanders grieve for these men.

"We are a nation in mourning.

"Where this morning we held on to hope, we must now make way for sorrow.

"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of those 29 brave men.

"After days of waiting, of both preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, they have been delivered the cruellest of news.

"So to all those who have lost a loved one in the Pike River mine let me say:

"New Zealand stands shoulder to shoulder with you.

"Though we can not possibly feel this pain as you do, we have you in our hearts and our thoughts.

"Like you, we all longed for that miracle to occur, that your men would be returned to you.

"Tonight, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, we send our sympathies to the children who have lost their fathers, the parents who have lost sons, the wives who have lost their husbands, the girlfriends who have lost their partners, the siblings who have lost their brothers.

"This is a tragedy for the communities of Greymouth and its surrounding area.

"This loss will be felt in every home. They leave behind them a hollow space, that will not be readily filled.

"We must also acknowledge that Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom have lost men in this tragedy as well.

"Tomorrow, I will travel to Greymouth to express my condolences to the families and to express our thanks to all those who have worked so hard on the attempted rescue of these men.

"From the moment of the first explosion, they have spent every waking hour tirelessly working, searching for a way to bring these men home alive. That was not to be. Their enormous effort can not go unmarked.

"In Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English will move a motion in my absence, providing all political parties an opportunity to express their sympathy. Then as a mark of respect to the victims and their families it is the Government's intention to lift the House.

"I have also directed that tomorrow all flags on Government buildings will fly at half-mast.

"Questions must now be asked and answered about how such a tragedy was able to occur and how we can prevent another happening in the future.

"It is my expectation that Cabinet will confirm the details of a Commission of Inquiry at its next meeting on Monday, along with any other inquiries that may be deemed appropriate.

"At this time of national pain, let us not lose sight of what truly makes New Zealand great.

"We are a tough and resilient country. We care deeply for our fellow countrymen and women. We are a series of communities knitted together by a set of values and principles that have guided us together through good times and bad.

"It is this spirit that will see us through."

THE VICTIMS

Conrad John Adams, Malcolm Campbell, Glen Peter Cruse, Allan John Dixon, Zen Wodin Drew, Christopher Peter Duggan, Joseph Ray Dunbar, John Leonard Hale, Daniel Thomas Herk, David Mark Hoggart, Richard Bennett Holling, Andrew David Hurren, Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, William John Joynson, Riki Steve Keane, Terry David Kitchin, Samuel Peter Mackie, Francis Skiddy Marden, Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, Stuart Gilbert Mudge, Kane Barry Nieper, Peter O'Neill, Milton John Osborne, Brendan John Palmer, Benjamin David Rockhouse, Peter James Rodger, Blair David Sims, Joshua Adam Ufer, Keith Thomas Valli

FAMILIES DESPAIR

Speaking directly after the family briefing, Lawrie Drew, whose son Zen, 21, was among the Pike River miners said,''I feel guilty I've let him down and I've lost him. I shouldn't have to bury my son. It should be the other way around.''

Drew demanded a full investigation into what happened at Pike River.

''It's a full cover up. They got what they wanted because now no one can come out and tell the truth expected the boys who are still here above ground and they're going to be silenced.''

He said a number of families were angry at the briefing started ''yelling and saying you had a window of opportunity five days ago. Why didn't you take it?''

''It's hard and now it's going to be harder to explain it to my mother,'' he said.

Drew also family ''talked on other matters'' before they told families about the explosion. When asked how to go on, Drew said ''to be honest I wouldn't have a clue''.

RECOVERY MODE

Investigation head Superintendent Gary Knowles said the large explosion happened about 2.37pm and they were not expecting anyone to get out alive.

They were now going into recovery mode.

It was one of the most horrific things he has had to deal with as a policeman.

"We had to break the news to the family and they are extremely distraught.

"I was at the mine myself when the explosion occurred.

The blast was horrific. Just as severe as the first blast - and we are now moving into a recovery mode."

Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn broke down as he left the family briefing. "We thought we were going to get some good news," he said outside.

"They told us there was a massive explosion and there was no way there were any survivors."

He said family members dropped to the floor after hearing the news, with many angry at how police had handled the operation.

He said the irony was that police were now sending in a team into the mine. "It's just gut-wrenching. This is our darkest hour."

Investigation head Superintendent Gary Knowles said the large explosion happened about 2.37pm and they were not expecting anyone to get out alive.

They were now going into recovery mode. It was one of the most horrific things he has had to deal with as a policeman.

"We had to break the news to the family and they are extremely distraught.

"I was at the mine myself when the explosion occurred. The blast was horrific. Just as severe as the first blast - and we are now moving into a recovery mode."

EARLIER TODAY

Earlier today, Police Commissioner Howard Broad had issued his most bleak outlook yet on the trapped Pike River coal miners.

Hot air and gas had rushed up a bore shaft from the mine as robots captured new footage, including a miner's helmet with a light still on.

A fire continued to burn inside the mine, and abandoned mines on the West Coast can burn decades after closing to mining.

Broad had suggested it could take "quite a long time" before the environment down the mine was safe to enter. '

'And that, of course, makes the outlook for those who were down in the mine a very bleak one.

ANGER GROWING

Prior to the second explosion this afternoon, the brother of the oldest miner trapped at Pike River had said it was time to send a rescue team into the mine, no matter the risks.

Geoff Valli, brother of 62-year-old Keith Valli, told Radio New Zealand this morning he'd had a "gutsful" of hearing the same excuses from police day after day.

Police had been warning of the volitile environment in the mine.

Speaking quietly and with his voice breaking, he said he didn't feel they could wait any longer.

"There isn't the time. I know what I'm asking other guys to do. I know the talk around town, there a lot of guys prepared to go in and do it," he said this morning.

"They’re not taking their mothers in there to rescue guys. It's time for men to do what men have got to do," Valli said.

He said he would "feel terrible" if another explosion happened but that was just as bad as not knowing.

"How are those rescue guys going to feel if no one goes in and has a look? To have that on their minds? That they never had a crack, never even had a crack."

- © Fairfax NZ News