Asa Fitzpatrick, 63, was working at the Newtown Energy Kanawha Eagle Peerless Rachel mine in Comfort, Boone County, when a rock fell from the roof as he was preparing to install a bolt.

“We express our deepest sympathies to Asa's family, friends and co-workers,” Patriot executive vice-president of operations Michael Day said Thursday.

“We are fully cooperating with state and federal mine regulatory officials as we investigate this incident.”

Company, state and federal investigations are all underway.

A federal preliminary report is still being developed.

According to MSHA data, the Peerless Rachel bituminous complex produced 500,000 tons of coal in 2012 with a staff of 138 workers working just over 301,000 man hours.

No fatal or contractor fatalities have been recorded at the operation since at least 2002, and in 2012 the mine reported three non-fatal days lost injuries to operators and one NFDL contractor injury.