Rest In Peace for Pike River Miners

For the past five days in the Pike River Coal mine, New Zealand, twenty-nine miners were trapped and now are all believed to be dead since there was a second explosion today, November 24 2010.  The tragic explosion had occurred at 2:37pm in New Zealand, which was a larger explosion than the explosion on Friday, which had caused the miners to be trapped. 

The chief of Pike River Coal, Peter Whittall stated after explaining of the large explosion from the rise in gas levels:

"There is probably unlikely to be any survivors from that.  There was coming a point where we were very hopeful we could get some men out of the mine, but it was probably realistic that some men could never have come out alive. This probably takes us to the point where I'm unlikely to see my workmates again. I'm unlikely to see them walk out of that mine."

There was to be an emergency crew who were related to missing miners however, they had complained about the delays.  It is believed that many were probably already unconscious before the second explosion because of the carbon monoxide, so therefore, it is likely that the carbon monoxide could have killed the miners instead of the explosions.  As the vent wasn't working which removed the gases whilst the miners were working, there was an increase in methane gas, debris and coal burning from the first explosion. 

Here are the names of the twenty-nine men who lost their lives today:

1. Conrad John Adams, 43 from Greymouh
2. Keith Thomas Valli, 62, from Winton
3. Malcolm Campbell, 25, from Fife
4. Glen Peter Cruse, 35, from Greymouth
5. Allan John Dixon, 59, from Runanga
6. Zen Wodin Drew, 21, Greymouth
7. Christopher Peter Duggan, 31, Greymouth
8. Joseph Ray Dunbar, 17
9. John Leonard Hale, 45, from Ruatapu
10. Daniel Thomas Herk, 36, from Runanga
11. David Mark Hoggart, 33, from Foxton
12. Richard Bennett Holling, 41, from Blackball
13. Andrew David Hurren, 32, Greymouth
14. Jacobus Albertus Jonker, 47, from South Africa
15. William John Joynson, 49, from Queensland
16. Riki Steve Keane, 28, from Greymouth
17. Terry David Kitchin, 41, from Runanga
18. Francis Skiddy Marden, 41, from Runanga
19. Samuel Peter McKie, 26, from Greymouth
20. Michael Nolan Hanmer Monk, 23, from Blaketown
21. Stuart Mudge, 31
22. Kane Barry Nieper, 33, from Greymouth
23. Peter O'Neill, from Runanga
24. Milton John Osborne, 54
25. Brendon John Palmer, 27
26. Benjamin David Rockhouse, 21, from Greymouth
27. Peter James Rodger, 40, from New Zealand
28. Blair David Sims, 28, from West Coast
29. Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, from Australia

Rest In Peace
xxx