Cole and Brandon Wilder, 23, were both fatally injured after a section of roof 20ft wide, 20ft long and 11ft high suddenly collapsed the evening of August 3. Wilder’s body was recovered about seven hours after the incident, according to a statement by the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.
Kentucky’s total mining fatalities for 2005 now stands at three.
“The employees of Stillhouse Mining are saddened because they also lost trusted friends,” said the company’s vice president of operations Ross Kegan as he expressed sympathy to the killed miners’ families. “The mine workers worked tirelessly around the clock for three-and-a-half days to complete this mission during very difficult and, at time, dangerous conditions.”
Workers spent most of Saturday August 6 installing roof supports to brace the shaft.
After many hours of searching, cadaver dogs successfully located Cole’s body. “The recovery process had been going on for about 79 hours, but once we used those dogs, the recovery was completed in about five hours,” said Kegan.
He said the mine would reopen and resume production “as soon as it is practical”. A state investigation has also commenced.
Stillhouse Mining, operating since 1999 with a staff of about 73, is owned by Black Mountain Resources, a division of Cumberland Resources.
