Welsh mine death inquests begin

Inquests: Rescuers were unable to save four miners trapped in a flooded South Wales pit
12 April 2012

The inquests into the deaths of four men who died when a mine flooded in south Wales will be opened today.

Phillip Hill, 45, Garry Jenkins, 39, David Powell, 50, and Charles Breslin, 62, died when water engulfed Gleision Colliery in Cilybebyll, Pontardawe, earlier this month.

Today, the four inquests will be opened and adjourned by Swansea coroner Phillip Rogers.

Although the cause of the miners' deaths were made public last week by South Wales Police, it is expected the brief hearing will see the issuing of interim death certificates, allowing the victims' families to begin funeral preparations.

The tragedy at Gleision occurred on September 15, when emergency services were called to the remote drift mine.

Three miners managed to escape as flood water engulfed the pit's shaft, when a retaining wall holding back a body of water underground failed.

Despite a frantic search and rescue operation, the bodies of the four trapped men were recovered the following day.

A spokesman from South Wales Police said: "Police are continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident at Gleision Colliery in Cilybebyll.

"Post-mortem examinations have been carried out and have confirmed that all four men were exposed to flooded pit contents under pressure.

"Specific information on each of the victims will be known following further investigation, which is likely to take eight to 12 weeks."

In the meantime, a fund launched to help the grieving families has continued to gain public support.

Neath MP Peter Hain, one of the appeal's co-founders, said: "It has exceeded all expectations. Incredibly, we will be able to give over £200,000 to the families."

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