Pike River: The 29 miners who died

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Each name on the list of the Pike River miners carries a world of heartbreak for families around New Zealand and beyond.

Each name carries with it the anguish and despair of families all over New Zealand, and further afield in Australia and Britain.

In the days following the 2010 disaster, faces and backgrounds were put to the names of the trapped men.

These are the Pike River victims.

Conrad John Adams, 43, Greymouth - Adams was listed on the Linked In website as a deputy - a shift boss - at Pike River Coal Mine.

Malcolm Campbell, 25, Greymouth (Scottish) - Campbell was due to marry Kiwi fiancee Amanda Shields on December 18. He was originally from St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Campbell's father, also Malcolm, told Britain's Sunday Express that his son spent two years working in Australian goldmines before coming to the Pike River mine. In a separate interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he said, 'Only last month we were watching the Chilean miners being rescued. I remember saying to my wife how awful it would be if it happened to Malcolm, and now it has.'

John Leonard Hale, 45, Ruatapu. His partner, Brenda Rackley, said they had been seeing each other for nine years 'on and off' and lived in neighbouring homes on the out-skirts of Hokitika. He was the guy who would be looking out for everyone down there, she said. Hale was a contractor for Hokitika company Chris Yeats Builders. He had found the mine work stressful and she had been hoping to convince him to leave it after Christmas.

Glen Peter Cruse, 35, Cobden. With a love for the outdoors, Cruse had worked in the mine for most of his life. His great grandfather and grandfather were also miners. Cruse was one of four children. He grew up in Greymouth and attended school there.

Allan John Dixon, 59, Runanga, Has a partner and two sons in Runanga. His partner, Robyn, believed Allan left her a brief, loving message on her mobile just minutes after the explosion but police later said that wasn't possible. Robyn and Allan had both been divorced and had met only a couple of years ago, the Australian reported. They had been introduced by friends and, both approaching 60, had fallen in love.

Zen Wodin Drew, 21, Greymouth - Zen Wodin Drew had just celebrated his 21st birthday. He was a building apprentice for a company contracted to Pike River Coal. The former Buller High School student lived in Cobden, a suburb in the north of Greymouth. His father, Lawrie Drew, wore his son's jacket while being interviewed, saying 'I just want to tell my son I love him'.

Christopher Peter Duggan, 31, Greymouth - From nearby Runanga, Chris' brother Dan Duggan wrote on his Facebook page earlier in the week: 'Love u me Brother Chris and all the lads underground, we are all trying to stay positive and thanks for all the messages guys.' His brother, John, flew back to New Zealand to be with the family. Friend Robyn McMillian said Chris was a 'neat person' and 'very bright and bubbly'. He had not been working in mining long and had previously worked in forestry, shifting industries because he wanted a change.

Joseph Ray Dunbar, 17, Greymouth - The youngest of the miners. Had turned 17 only the day before he went down the mine. The day of the explosion was his first day working underground. His mother, Philippa Timms, said he was due to start work at the mine on Monday, but was too excited to wait and asked to go down Friday instead. Joseph was 'rebellious, but fun - lots and lots of fun'.

Daniel Thomas Herk, 36, Runanga. His Auckland-based grandfather broke down when asked about Daniel. He said his grandson grew up partly in Auckland, partly in New Plymouth and partly in Greymouth. Daniel's parents lived in New Plymouth. 'He has worked in the mines quite a long time,' his grandfather said.

David Mark Hoggart, 33, Greymouth. Hoggart's parents are understood to be Foxton residents, though lived in Greymouth.

Richard Bennett Holling, 41, Blackball. Newly married Holling was the first in his family to go down a mine, uncle Mike Holling said. 'We are not a mining family at all.' Richard grew up in Christchurch. Richard was a 'laid back sort of guy' who didn't care much about money. His new wife, Daejee, told media she kept 'thinking positive' throughout the past five days. Richard had been working in the mine for three months as a trainee.

Andrew David Hurren, 32, Hokitika. Known as Huck to his friends, he was said to love the outdoors and was a keen hunter and fisherman. He was described by friends as 'a quiet guy with a huge heart who would do anything for anyone'. One friend told TVNZ that 'no-one could say a bad word about him'. He grew up in Hokitika, attending Hokitika Primary School and then Westland High school.

Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, 47, Cobden (South Africa) - Joonker's wife, Christelle, left a moving message on her Facebook profile after the explosion: 'Dankie vir al jul gebede en moet asb nie ophou nie.' It translates as 'Thanks for all your prayers and please do not stop.' South Africa's Eyewitness News reported that Jonker's long-time friend, Bertie Buitendach, said Jonker did not enjoy working at the mine. 'He told this friend of ours that the mine is unsafe and he does not feel comfortable and safe to work there.' Jonker apparently applied for a transfer just a day before the explosion that left him trapped.

William John Joynson, 49, Dunollie Australia, An experienced underground miner who worked for many years in the Burgowan mines at Howard, near Bunderberg. His wife and two children live in Queensland, and he had been travelling between there and Greymouth while working at Pike River. His sister, Veronica Cook, told Australian radio that her family had tried to convince Joynson to quit his career in the mines.

Riki Steve Keane, 28, Greymouth. One of three trapped miners who were members of the Blaketown Rugby Football Club. Along with Blair Sims and Michael Monk, Keane was a member of the club's senior side, where he plays first-five. President John Pfiefer said Keane had played for the club for about three years.

Terry David Kitchin, 41, Runanga - Reports Terry and worked overtime were incorrect. He had probably been nearing the end of his shift when the blast happened, his brother Rob said. Rob and Terry were both carpenters. Terry was born and bred in Westport, where he worked for Buller Timber Products. He left when he was about 20 for Darwin where he worked as a banana picker. He met his wife, a kiwi, there and the couple returned to New Zealand about eight years ago. They have three children under the age of 10.

Samuel Peter MacKie, 26, Greymouth.

Francis Skiddy Marden, 41, Runanga.

Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, 23, Greymouth - A rugby rep for the West Coast, he attended top rugby school St Bede's College in Christchurch as a boarder before he returned home to work in the mine. He was the son of a Paroa hotel-owner and long-serving West Coast rugby captain Bernie Monk, and long-term West Coast netball rep and coach Cath Monk.

Stuart Gilbert Mudge, 31, Runanga. Orginally from Whangarei. His dad Stephen Rose said his son was 'fit, very strong and very healthy' and that working in the mine gave him an 'outlet for his energy'. He said mining was not about the money for Stuart. He loved the industry, the physical, hard work and the 'common bond' with the other miners.

Kane Barry Nieper, 33, Greymouth - Nieper was married to daughter of a local contractor, they have a young family.

Peter O'Neill, 55, Runanga - O'Neill was a member of a well known mining family from Runanga. His father and several brothers have worked in the coal mining industry. He was a Runanga and West Coast rugby league identity and with brothers Iain, Trevor, and the late Pat was also very prominent in lawn bowls. One of O'Neill's brothers was in the mines rescue team at Pike River. Peter, believed to be a shift boss, was a member of the mines rescue team involved in the rescue of miners trapped in the flooded Black Reef mine two years ago.

Milton John Osborne, 54, Ngahere - Osborne was serving his second term as a Grey District Councillor for the Eastern Ward, a position to which he was elected unopposed.A contractor at the Pike River Mine, Milton lived in the Grey Valley with his family. National's West Coast MP Chris Auchinvole said Osborne was a 'great guy'.'He is a very large gentleman, used to give me good advice during the election campaign. If things got a bit rough he would tap me on the shoulder and say,'Chris, mate. You just stay lovely, that's how they want you. I'll do the nasty bits'.'

Brendan John Palmer, 27, Cobden. Brendon was a second generation miner - his father Marty also works at the Pike River Mine. He had a 5-year-old daughter named Heidi and had been working in the Pike River mine for a couple of months as a trainee miner, after farming for most of his working life.Mr Palmer told the New Zealand Herald Brendon had had his share of troubles while 'enjoying life' in the past, but had turned his life around and was 'going good'.'He loved it. He thought he was going to go places,' Mr Palmer said.

Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21, Greymouth - The younger brother of coal miner Daniel Rockhouse, 24, who was one of only two men to escape the mine. Neville Rockhouse, Ben and Daniel's father, was the safety & training manager at Pike River Coal. Ben loved Texas hold 'em poker, Bob Dylan music and kiwi TV favourite Outrageous Fortune.

Peter James Rodger, 40, Greymouth (British) - Peter was described as a friend by an 'adventurer who loved life'. He lived in Greymouth with his Kiwi girlfriend Dianne Morris. A former oil-rig worker, he has worked as a mechanic at the mine since April. Made the switch to mining after suffering a leg injury in the North Sea. He moved to New Zealand two years ago to be near his mother and sister after they emigrated. Earlier in the week his friend Simon Martin, from Perth, said: 'I know he'll be keeping everyone's spirits up. I've been sitting by the phone, I just want to hear he is all right.'

Blair David Sims, 28, Greymouth - Sims was married and had two young children. He was a rugby league representative, a regular player in the centre or on the wing for the West Coast. Sims received the West Coast Player of the Year Award the last two years running, as well as being picked for the newly established South Island team this year.

Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, Australia - Ufer's fiancee, Rachelle Weaver, is three months pregnant and due to have the baby in May. Friends describe him as a larrikin who works hard and parties harder. 'Josh is determined and works hard,' one friend said. 'He is strong and would punch through the rock to get out of there. If anyone is to survive, it will be him.' Parents Joanne and Karl had flown to New Zealand from Australia and China. Was a drilling supervisor and originally hailed from Middlemount in Queensland.

Keith Thomas Valli, 62, Winton. The oldest of the 29 miners. Keith's brother Geoff Valli said on the morning of the second explosion that he wanted a rescue team to go into the mine, despite the risks. He called his brother a 'good bugger'. 'He was quiet, non-assuming, but solid as a rock,' he said. Keith was an extremely experienced miner. 'He knew his stuff,' Geoff said.