A coal miner has tragically been found dead after a roof collapse deep underground at a major Queensland mine site. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, sparking a major rescue operation that ended in sorrow.
Details of the Underground Collapse
The worker became trapped at the Curragh coalmine in central Queensland at approximately 3pm on Friday. Initial reports indicated he could have been as far as one kilometre underground when the structure gave way. Emergency teams worked through the night to stabilise the hazardous site and reach the missing man.
Queensland's acting mines minister, Tony Perrett, confirmed the devastating outcome on Saturday night. "One worker was safely recovered yesterday, while specialist teams worked through the night to stabilise the site and access the second individual," Perrett stated. "Tragically, that worker could not be saved."
Mine Operations and Response
The Curragh coalmine is located north of Blackwater, roughly 200km west of Rockhampton. The extensive site covers an area of 256 square kilometres across two separate mines and has been operational since 1983. It is currently owned by Coronado Global Resources, which acquired it in 2018.
Douglas Thompson, Coronado's chief executive, expressed profound sadness and extended the company's deepest sympathies to the worker's family and colleagues. The company confirmed that all underground mining operations have been suspended. It is providing support to the contracted operator, Mammoth Underground Mine Management, which is working with authorities to determine the precise cause of the collapse.
A Separate Tragedy in the Resources Sector
In a separate and unrelated incident about 300km north of Curragh, a 58-year-old gold prospector also lost his life on Friday. The man, who was working alone with an excavator at a private mine site on a Mount Britton property, was struck by falling rocks after a rock face partially collapsed. Police confirmed on Saturday that he died from leg injuries caused by a falling rock.
Acting Minister Perrett said both deaths were "tragic reminders of the risks faced by those who work in our resources sector." He emphasised, "Every worker deserves to return home safely, and I expect full and thorough investigations into both incidents to ensure answers are provided and lessons are learned."
