Trapped miners named by officers

15 September 2011 Last updated at 16:42 ET

Police have named four miners trapped 90m (295ft) underground by water in a small drift mine.

The men have been trapped at Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley since Thursday morning.

They have been named as Charles Bresnan, 62; David Powell, 50; and Garry Jenkins, 39, all from the Swansea Valley; and Phillip Hill, 45, of Neath.

Rescuers have made no contact with them but are optimistic they will be freed.

Prime Minister David Cameron said his thoughts were with the men and their families “at this very difficult time”.

Two other miners escaped and a third is at Morriston Hospital in a critical condition.

Neath MP Peter Hain said that emergency services were sending in divers to establish conditions in the mine tunnel, which is full of water.

Chris Margetts, from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said water was being pumped from the mine.

“What we have determined is the miners are located approximately 90m underground,” he said.

“They are down a 250m main route into the mine… there are numerous little tunnels and old workings which all potentially have air pockets in.

“They are experienced miners, they know the lat of the mine, they would know where to go in this situation.

“What we are dealing with is their egress out of the mine is full of water.”

He said conditions in the mine were favourable and he was “very hopeful and optimistic” the men could be freed successfully.

‘Desperately serious’

BBC Wales News web reporter Daniel Davies, who is at the scene, said families at the Rhos Community Centre meeting point, where those affected can talk to police and specialists, appeared to be preparing for a long night.

“At about a 19:45, Red Cross delivered bedding to the community centre where the relatives are, such as pillows and blankets,” he said.

He said assembly member Bethan Jenkins had told him that local people had been bringing food and drink for families and trying to comfort them.

Ali Thomas, leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said the miners are “great guys” and he had spoken to some of their families.

“I know at least two of the four and I’m quietly optimistic, given that they might have found a safe haven this morning, that they will still be there,” he said.

Mr Hain, who described the situation as “very grim,” said he understood rescuers were using a parallel tunnel to pump oxygen into the mine while also attempting to pump water out.

“This is a desperately serious situation. I have talked to all the families concerned who are my constituents,” he said.

“The police and the rescue services have assured me that everything possible is being done to rescue these men.”

He said two of the miners involved were father and son, with the son escaping earlier while the father was still trapped.

It is thought the men became trapped by water after breaking into old mine workings.

Wayne Thomas, from the National Union of Mineworkers in south Wales, said the best equipment and the best expertise was combining to help the men.

“These men have worked in the mining industry for most of their lives and they will have experienced the challenges of mining and the difficulty that brings. And they will know people are coming towards them. It’s only a matter of time,” he said.

There have been reports the source of the water may have come from an underground reservoir, though Andrew Watson, who runs the Mines Rescue Service and is co-ordinating the rescue, said the source was not yet known.

“The most essential bit of kit we’ve got is long-duration breathing apparatus and access to pumps which will remove the water out of the mine,” he said.

‘Working very hard’

The mine owners MNS said their thoughts were with the families.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said the mine was underneath a steep slope near the River Tawe.

“Nevertheless, we know the emergency services are working very hard and we know the mine is in a difficult position to reach,” he said.

Retired mine director Keith Jones, 69, from nearby Alltwen, who used to own a mine on the same side of the mountain as Gleision Colliery, said conditions would be “stone cold freezing”.

Meanwhile, a dedicated telephone line has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned that relatives may have been involved. The number is 01792 555565.

Emergency services, which were called to the mine at 09:21 BST, said it was not yet known exactly how the incident happened.

Emergency services are conducting a ‘difficult’ rescue operation, say police

Two more men escaped unaided from the drift mine – a mine cut into the side of a hill where the coal seam is accessed horizontally – before help arrived.

Supt Phil Davies said though there was water in the mine there was nothing preventing access.

Phil White, a former director of Tower Colliery, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which closed in 2008, said: “Gleision Colliery has been working for some time under a private licence.

“It has been a long-established mine. It’s not a big mine and it would employ 10 to 20 people. It could be between 100 metres and 300 metres deep and it’s always at an incline.”

Some 50 rescuers have been involved in the operation, of whom 18 to 20 were firefighters trained for this type of incident.

‘Cordoned off’

Rescuers included nine rope specialists and 12 urban search and rescue specialists.

The prime minister offered his support to the miners and their families.

“Every support will be given to the emergency services to ensure they continue to do all they can,” said Mr Cameron.

“In due course we must ensure we fully understand and learn from the causes of this accident.”

Map showing area where the mine is

Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan commented: “I am receiving regular updates from the police services and I will be praying for the safe rescue of all involved.”

Although most mines in south Wales are now closed, there are pockets of small-scale collieries still in operation.

Gleision Colliery, in operation since 1993, works coal under a very steep hillside above the banks of the river Tawe.

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