Pike River mining disaster: Bodies of Scots killed could be recovered
NC Malcolm Campbell's family (L) and the scene of the disaster (R)
Malcolm Campbell, 24, and Pete Rodger, 40, were killed alongside 27 other men in a series of catastrophic underground explosions in November 2010. New Zealand’s new prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, launched a special agency last week aimed at retrieving the remains of the victims from their underground tomb. It heralds a change in attitude after the previous administration insisted the mine was too dangerous to enter and planned to seal it with concrete. Mr Campbell’s mother Jane, below, of St Andrews, said it was “about time” efforts were made to bring the men home to loved ones. The 52-year-old added: “We and the other families have been campaigning for seven long years for something to happen. “This agency is now open and gives us real hope we’ll be able to bring Malcolm home. We’d like to be able to say a proper farewell. I do not like the idea of him lying underground in the other side of the world.
We and the other families have been campaigning for seven long years Malcolm Campbell's mother
“Re-entering Pike River can also hopefully yield some evidence as to what really happened. “And, because there is no oxygen, I’d expect most of the bodies there to be intact. This is hugely important not just for us but for all the families involved. It is our chance of getting some answers at long last. “But I believe it will be at least another year before we know what lies in there.” Ms Ardern said clearing the 1.5mile tunnel leading into the main part of the mine would not be straightforward but hoped it could be done by March next year.
She admitted there was “no plan B” for the site, near Greymouth on the South Island. The Pike River Recovery Agency will operate as a stand-alone government department in a bid to reach the bodies. It will be led by former army chief Major General Dave Gawn and will work with expert contractors to draw up an action plan before making a final decision on re-entering the main part of the mine. If it goes ahead, a recovery phase lasting up to three years can start to gather evidence and bring out any human remains. After the project is completed, the mine will be sealed and the site turned into a memorial to the disaster. Addressing the families in Greymouth last week, Ms Ardern said: “Your determination and commitment to seeking justice is ultimately why we are here.
“Every working New Zealander has the right to return home safely at the end of the day. Twenty-nine of your loved ones were denied that right. “The worst of it was it was avoidable. Since that day you’ve been denied closure, denied that certainty [about] what happened and denied a voice. Today that changes.” Around £12million has been set aside for the operation and Ms Ardern continued: “It is a very technical process and all of us, including the families, are very mindful of safety concerns. The last thing they want is anyone else harmed in the process of bringing their men home. “We have set aside an appropriation but ultimately we have set our sights on the goal itself. There is no plan B. The plan is re-entry in the safest way possible.” Only two miners survived after a series of methane explosions deep underground.