Mining resumes after tragic death

A Woombye man was killed and three others injured in this accident at Curragh Mine.

RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service

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IT WAS a sombre day for workers at Blackwater’s Curragh Mine yesterday as they mourned the death on site of a 55-year-old contract miner.

The mine ceased its operations for more than 24 hours, but even when the first shift was due to start at 7pm yesterday, no one wanted to return to work.

“Everyone is really sad. No one wants to go back,” a miner, who wished to remain anonymous, said yesterday.

The civil engineer, of Woombye, west of the Sunshine Coast, was killed when the four-wheel drive he was travelling in crashed and overturned at 10.50am on Tuesday.

He was one of four men inside the vehicle at the time, but the only one to suffer major injuries.

He suffered head injuries, multiple fractures and internal bleeding from the initial impact.

He was taken to Blackwater Hospital by road but it is believed he later suffered a cardiac arrest and staff were unable to revive him at 12.25pm.

The three others, aged 23, 51 and 30, were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

It is believed the driver, a 30-year-old Rockhampton man, lost control of the vehicle.

All four worked for Salmon’s Earthmoving Services, which has been working on construction of water

storage dams at the mine for 18 months.

Curragh management said it made the decision to shut down yesterday as a mark of respect.

The deceased man’s next of kin was advised of the tragic accident late on Tuesday by police.

His family have advised they do not want his identity released to the public.

A miner yesterday said the first-response paramedics deserved much praise for the way they handled the incident.

“They are just unbelievable and deserve more money,” he said.

Meanwhile any rumours that the contractors in the vehicle may have been doing “donuts” before the crash – based on curved tyre marks shown in aerial photos taken by the RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service – have been strongly denied.

It is believed the tyre marks were left by a water truck, fire engine and police cars.

A spokesman for Curragh said mine management was working closely with Queensland Police, the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and industry health and safety representatives to continue investigations.