US coal mine collapse traps six-Utah - Thread No. 3

[Earthbound Misfit I]

7th Hole Shows Mine Shaft Filled with Debris
August 30th, 2007 @ 6:30pm

Alex Cabrero and AP Reporting

Crews finished drilling a seventh hole into the mountain where six miners have been trapped for 25 days -- but were met with disappointment.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman Rich Kulczewski says the mine shaft was filled with about 7 feet of debris, water and mud.

That deterred plans to drop a robotic camera down the 1,856-foot hole.

The hole itself was also filling with mud at a rate of 5 feet-per hour.

Kulczewski says officials plan to drop the robot down hole number 4 tonight despite at 90 percent chance the high-tech camera on treads could be lost.

The families are obviously saddened by this news. Family spokesman Colin King said it is very discouraging, very disappointing news, but they are not giving up just yet.

According to family attorneys, there are no plans for digging future holes.

They said the families are just hoping to learn more from the robot going down hole number four.
Meanwhile, MSHA announced its own investigation into their handling of the Utah mine disaster. The investigation will be led by Richard Gates, who was in charge of the review of the Sago mine tragedy in West Virginia, where 12 people died in January 2006.

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1721778

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

I think you are correct that there was only 6 inches of clearance in the #4 borehole.

1414'--------------1586'------------1703'--------1865'------------2039'------------
3rd----------------4th---------------6th---7/1----2nd--------------5th---------------rescue
Hole---------------Hole-------------Hole--Hole---Hole-------------Hole--------------workers
CC147-<-520'->-CC143-<-520'->-CC139<260'>CC137-<-520'->-CC133-<-780'->-CC127
there's 130 feet between crosscuts

If I recall correctly, wasn't it Hole #4 where there was only a little clearance?? Seems that they said six, or so, inches??

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Cousin is willing to risk his life

[FONT=Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]By Amy Choate-Nielsen[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]Deseret Morning News[/FONT]

Published: Aug. 30, 2007 12:05 a.m. MDT


PRICE &#8212; There's a sense of helplessness in Denny Erickson's voice as he says he's willing to risk his own life to recover his cousin, who may already be dead.

But as the number of days that six trapped miners &#8212; Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Louis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez &#8212; have been unreachable has turned into weeks, an apparent lack of success and options has made Erickson and other relatives of the miners desperate.

Erickson, who is Don Erickson's cousin, says he and a handful of other family members of the trapped miners are ready and able to enter a two-foot metal capsule and be lowered into the Crandall Canyon Mine &#8212; regardless of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's misgivings that the attempt almost certainly would be deadly.

"They keep saying sending somebody down that capsule hole isn't worth risking any more lives to find these guys, but when you're family and you want them out, to you it is worth it," said Denny Erickson, a father of five children. "I'd be willing to sign a statement to say (Murray Energy Corp.) wouldn't be liable if something happened to me, and I'm sure other guys would too, as long as they got their relative out."

More at link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695205664,00.html

 

[Buzz Mills]

Cousin is willing to risk his life

[FONT=Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]By Amy Choate-Nielsen[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]Deseret Morning News[/FONT]

Published: Aug. 30, 2007 12:05 a.m. MDT


PRICE &#8212; There's a sense of helplessness in Denny Erickson's voice as he says he's willing to risk his own life to recover his cousin, who may already be dead.

But as the number of days that six trapped miners &#8212; Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Louis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez &#8212; have been unreachable has turned into weeks, an apparent lack of success and options has made Erickson and other relatives of the miners desperate.

Erickson, who is Don Erickson's cousin, says he and a handful of other family members of the trapped miners are ready and able to enter a two-foot metal capsule and be lowered into the Crandall Canyon Mine &#8212; regardless of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's misgivings that the attempt almost certainly would be deadly.

"They keep saying sending somebody down that capsule hole isn't worth risking any more lives to find these guys, but when you're family and you want them out, to you it is worth it," said Denny Erickson, a father of five children. "I'd be willing to sign a statement to say (Murray Energy Corp.) wouldn't be liable if something happened to me, and I'm sure other guys would too, as long as they got their relative out."

More at link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695205664,00.html

The missing miners are buried in 100's of tons of coal; even if anyone could get down into the mine, they could never dig the missing miners out. Odds are that the trip in the rescue capsule would be a one-way trip. The mountain is still alive, and the slightest shift would trap the capsule.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

As I said before, sometimes you have to protect people from themselves.

He may be willing to risk his life for his cousin which is admirable...but shouldn't he be considering who is going to help raise the five children he brought into this world and count on him to be there? While his heart is breaking, someone needs to be reasonable and protect the best interests of his children. I hope they will continue to decline to allow anyone go on such a suicide mission.

 

[angelmom]

I feel so badly for these families, but I wonder what more they really think can be done. Are they being realistic at all? I just cannot imagine living with the thought that someone else died trying to recover what are almost certainly dead bodies.

As hard as it is to live with, unfortunately it happens. The 9/11 victims weren't all recovered, drowning victims can't always be recovered, and many murder victims are never found. Mt. Everest is like a giant tomb, and people climb right past bodies in the open.

I wouldn't want any more deaths on my conscience. They need to do some reflecting and consider if it is time to stop.

 

[cheko1]

With the drilling of the 7th hole & absolutely no chance of even getting the robot down the hole it seems to be clear nothing more can be done.

I'm certain the families are devastated. But what more can be done? Nobody can go into that mine, its a death trap. The cousins & other family members know it would be suicide.

I understand the families wanting the remains for a proper burial, I sincerely do! They also wouldn't want anyone else to get trapped & have another funeral to attend. Nobody would want that to happen.

It is in peoples hearts to do any & everything you can to lift the burden of our loved ones. When my brother got 98% of his body burnt beyond 3rd degree burns. I offered to donate very large areas of my skin for skin grafting, I was 18 & would of done that in a heart beat. He passed away before that could happen. Today I know that would of been so painful, but I'd of done it, not a concern or worry about infections & never hesitating or thinking of myself first. Later my Mom told me she was thankful I never had to endure that pain & suffering.

 

[Squishified]

With the drilling of the 7th hole & absolutely no chance of even getting the robot down the hole it seems to be clear nothing more can be done.

I'm certain the families are devastated. But what more can be done? Nobody can go into that mine, its a death trap. The cousins & other family members know it would be suicide.

I understand the families wanting the remains for a proper burial, I sincerely do! They also wouldn't want anyone else to get trapped & have another funeral to attend. Nobody would want that to happen.

It is in peoples hearts to do any & everything you can to lift the burden of our loved ones. When my brother got 98% of his body burnt beyond 3rd degree burns. I offered to donate very large areas of my skin for skin grafting, I was 18 & would of done that in a heart beat. He passed away before that could happen. Today I know that would of been so painful, but I'd of done it, not a concern or worry about infections & never hesitating or thinking of myself first. Later my Mom told me she was thankful I never had to endure that pain & suffering.

cheko,
I am so sorry about your brother. :blowkiss:

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Awwww, Cheko. Hugs to you. You have a wonderful spirit and I know you gladly would have helped your brother. Bless your heart. I am so sorry your family had to go through such a horrific time.

 

[jubie]

I feel so badly for these families, but I wonder what more they really think can be done. Are they being realistic at all? I just cannot imagine living with the thought that someone else died trying to recover what are almost certainly dead bodies.

As hard as it is to live with, unfortunately it happens. The 9/11 victims weren't all recovered, drowning victims can't always be recovered, and many murder victims are never found. Mt. Everest is like a giant tomb, and people climb right past bodies in the open.

I wouldn't want any more deaths on my conscience. They need to do some reflecting and consider if it is time to stop.

Seriously? There are dead bodies out in the open on Everest?


Jubie

 

[jubie]

With the drilling of the 7th hole & absolutely no chance of even getting the robot down the hole it seems to be clear nothing more can be done.

I'm certain the families are devastated. But what more can be done? Nobody can go into that mine, its a death trap. The cousins & other family members know it would be suicide.

I understand the families wanting the remains for a proper burial, I sincerely do! They also wouldn't want anyone else to get trapped & have another funeral to attend. Nobody would want that to happen.

It is in peoples hearts to do any & everything you can to lift the burden of our loved ones. When my brother got 98% of his body burnt beyond 3rd degree burns. I offered to donate very large areas of my skin for skin grafting, I was 18 & would of done that in a heart beat. He passed away before that could happen. Today I know that would of been so painful, but I'd of done it, not a concern or worry about infections & never hesitating or thinking of myself first. Later my Mom told me she was thankful I never had to endure that pain & suffering.

Your poor brother, so sorry!! Admirable of you to bo so seflless but you would have put yourself in danger as well, your mum would have endured even a greater loss.


Jubie

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Crews Send Robotic Camera Down 4th Hole at Mine
August 31st, 2007 @ 6:56am

(KSL News) After another day of disappointment, rescue crews and the families of six trapped miners are hoping day 26 of the search for the men brings good news.

Crews have sent a robotic camera into the Crandall Canyon mine, and we should know what they found sometime today.

This comes after a camera sent down hole number seven showed only a mine shaft filled with about seven feet of debris, water and mud. So, officials with the Mine Safety and Health Administration decided to drop the robot down hole number four, despite a 90 percent chance it'll be lost.
The spokesman for the miners' families, Colin King, says they are not giving up just yet.

"They still don't want to give up. They're still hoping, but it really gets hard when you hear bad news after bad news," he said.
King also said there are no plans for digging future holes into the mine.

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1727262

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

(((((Cheko1))))))) Sorry about your brother. You have a heart of gold and would have done whatever it took to help him.

 

[cheko1]

Awwww, Cheko. Hugs to you. You have a wonderful spirit and I know you gladly would have helped your brother. Bless your heart. I am so sorry your family had to go through such a horrific time.

Many thanks SS.......
The thing I was trying to say is when it comes to family our love holds no barriers. No matter what if we think we can lift anothers burdens thats what we do.

So I perfectly know what the cousin of the miner is going thru & he feels helpless.

 

[cheko1]

Your poor brother, so sorry!! Admirable of you to bo so seflless but you would have put yourself in danger as well, your mum would have endured even a greater loss.


Jubie

Thank you..............nothing admirable about it. Just in times of troubles we do things like that without thinking of the consequences.

 

[cheko1]

(((((Cheko1))))))) Sorry about your brother. You have a heart of gold and would have done whatever it took to help him.

Thank you RKnowley!

I did learn to hope & pray & not give up hope. He lived 27 days, it was awful the pain he endured. The DR told my Mom to pray he passed away ASAP. Wow did she tell the DR off.

So this collapsed mine brought back many memories, that have been buried for years. Faith & hope is all the miners families have had. It is so sad for them............my thoughts & prayers are with them all.

 

[cheko1]

I am off for the Labor Day weekend............hope everyone here remains safe & sound. Have a great weekend!!!!!

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Aug 31, 2007 12:59 pm US/Mountain
Families Discouraged By Findings In Latest Hole

HUNTINGTON The families of six men trapped inside a Utah coal mine for 26 days appear to be moving toward accepting that their loved ones will not be found alive, a lawyer said Friday.

Hole No. 7 drilled more than 1,800 feet through a mountain and into the Crandall Canyon mine Thursday found nearly 7 feet of debris.

The drill bit emerged in an area called the "kitchen," where miners are trained to seek refuge during a collapse.

"It was very discouraging to them to hear about the kitchen area being filled with rubble," said Colin King, a lawyer and spokesman for the families.

"I think they're moving closer and closer to accepting the likelihood that they won't find anyone alive," he said.

A thunderous mountain shudder in the early hours of Aug. 6 caused mine ribs to implode, trapping Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez.

It is not known if they are dead or alive. Three rescuers working underground were killed in a second collapse Aug. 16, another disaster that has foreclosed a separate way to reach the miners.

More at link: http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_243150056.html

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Have a wonderful weekend Cheko1 and everybodyelse!

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Mine Rescue Worker Honored at National Mine Competition
August 31st, 2007

(KSL News) The collapse and rescue efforts at the Crandall Canyon mine have been noticed worldwide.

Friends and colleagues of Gary Jensen, the Mine Safety and Health Administration inspector killed during the rescue efforts, honored him in Tennessee at the National Mine Rescue Competition, which Jensen had planned to attend.

There, MSHA officials renamed a mine inspection award in his honor and attendees raised more than $4,000 for the victims' families. Jensen is the first MSHA official to die in a work-related accident in more than 30 years.

Source: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1728380