Pike River re-entry crew reaches 'critical area for forensic examination'

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Flames coming out of a ventilation shaft at Pike River Mine after a fifth explosion in 2010.

The Pike River re-entry crew has reached a “critical area for forensic examination”, known as pit bottom in stone.

Pike River Re-entry Minister Andrew Little called it a “major milestone”.

Pit bottom in stone was a network of side roads off the mine’s access tunnel, or drift, containing heavy electrical gear, including switchgear. It is about 1900 metres up the drift.

“The infrastructure located in pit bottom in stone is of very significant interest in determining why 29 men went to work on November 19, 2010, and never came home,” Little said.

**READ MORE:

Pike River survivor Russell Smith and Pike River family members Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne talk about an important milestone in the drift (mine access tunnel) recovery. (Video first published in August 2020)

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He said the Pike River Recovery Agency, set up by the coalition Government, was a substantial way towards delivering the Government’s promise to do everything practicably possible to re-enter the drift and to better understand the cause of the disaster.

The journey down the Pike River mine drift.

Recovery and forensics of the pit bottom in stone roadways was complex, Little said.

A hazard assessment, inspection and forensic scan of the area will be undertaken, before barricading off the area.

Family members welcome a significant milestone in the mine drift’s recovery.

The team will then continue re-entry of the 2.3-kilometre stone drift, which involves putting in roof support and removing debris. It is expected to take two months.

Little previously said there was a small possibility that one or more of the men’s bodies could be recovered from the top of the drift which was previously unexplored.

A seal would be put in at the roof fall that blocks the mine workings and then the recovery team would go back to fully examine pit bottom in stone and recover any electrical equipment.

“Undertaking forensics on this area is going to require some additional expert guidance as the area is being treated as a crime scene. The Pike River Recovery Agency will be working through this with the New Zealand police,” Little said.

The Stand with Pike group, which represents 27 of the Pike families, said this was a huge milestone for the recovery.

“We are anticipating that forensic analysis of this equipment will be able to provide critical evidence to explain in detail the sequence of events when the mine exploded, closing gaps that we hope and pray will finally make justice for the Pike River 31 a reality,” the group said in a statement.

Pike River widow Anna Osborne, who chairs the group, said the recovery of pit bottom in stone needed strong scrutiny.

“The families need to know that the scene examination will be done by the best experts, using the right equipment and knowledge. This is an absolutely critical part of the recovery, and we are being very clear with police and the recovery agency that it must be a focused effort and that there needs to be transparency to ensure families can trust the outcome,” she said.

Sonya Rockhouse, who lost son Ben in the explosion, said there were many conspiracy theories floating around about Pike that had caused a lot of grief to family members.

“This is the chance to get a clear run at the truth. Reaching this section of the drift has been one of the most important goals for the families for years now. This is the one place likely to hold evidence crucial to seeing justice being done,” she said.

Survivor Daniel Rockhouse’s loader will be the next large item to be recovered from the drift. He survived the blast because he was in the pit bottom in stone area.