A MAN has died after a mine collapsed on the outskirts of Ballarat yesterday.<\/p>\n
Two men were pinned by fallen rocks and trapped underground in the collapse.<\/p>\n
The body of a 37-year-old Bruthen man was recovered from the Ballarat Gold Mine in Mount Clear by emergency service personnel this morning.<\/p>\n
Paramedics and mine rescue staff were able to stabilise and extract the second man, a 21-year-old Ballarat man, yesterday evening at approximately 8.30pm.<\/p>\n
He was treated for lower body injuries and airlifted to hospital in a life-threatening condition.<\/p>\n
The men are believed to have been undertaking a manual type of mining called air legging at the time of the collapse.<\/p>\n
According to Australian Workers Union Victoria state secretary Ronnie Hayden, the two miners appear to have been working under unsupported ground.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred 3km from the mine\u2019s entry, and 28 other miners were able to take refuge in a safety pod before they were brought to the surface and assessed by Ambulance Victoria yesterday evening.<\/p>\n
Victory Minerals took operational control of the gold mine in December.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our mining workers and their families,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Ballarat mayor Des Hudson said it was devastating news to hear of the miner\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a very resilient community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be great community concern and support by the local community to those that are involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
WorkSafe will investigate the incident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A MAN has died after a mine collapsed on the outskirts of Ballarat yesterday. Two men were pinned by fallen rocks and trapped underground in the collapse. The body of a 37-year-old Bruthen man was recovered from the Ballarat Gold Mine in Mount Clear by emergency service personnel this morning. Paramedics and mine rescue staff […]<\/p>\n