Queensland mine collapse: Two workers missing near Cloncurry confirmed dead
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to two Queensland miners whose bodies were found in their vehicle 125m underground after a horror accident.
Emergency Services
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Dylan Langridge and Trevor Davis, the two miners missing since Wednesday at a mine near Cloncurry in northwest Queensland, have been confirmed dead.
Rescue crews on Thursday morning found the vehicle that the two missing men were driving when they fell into a void 125m below ground at a mine site 70km northwest of Cloncurry.
It is understood a drilling rig fell about 15m down a stope void at the underground Dugald River mine, with the operator able to escape the rig, but two workers in a vehicle behind the drill fell as the ground gave way about 8am on Wednesday.
The tragic news was confirmed by Barminco managing director and Perenti CEO Mark Norwell, who said on Thursday: “This is a devastating outcome and I want to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of Trevor and Dylan, both of whom should have come home safely from work yesterday.”
Mr Norwell said “Our immediate and ongoing focus is on providing support to the families, friends and colleagues of Trevor and Dylan.”
“The safety of our employees is an absolute priority for Perenti, as it is for the industry more broadly. I am devastated that the families and friends of our two workmates have lost their loved ones. This outcome is simply not acceptable.
“In collaboration with MMG and the relevant authorities in Queensland, we will work to understand the circumstances behind this tragic incident and what additional measures need to be put in place to prevent this type of incident happening again.
“We would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly under very challenging conditions in the recovery of Trevor and Dylan.
“The rescue operation has now sadly completed. Our primary focus is that of support for the families and colleagues of Trevor and Dylan and in parallel completing a comprehensive investigation.”
Fellow miners have paid tribute to their “underground brothers”, who they say “deserved so much more”.
“I’ve worked with some great people over my life working underground but too lose 2 (sic) close friends is completely upsetting,” Chris McDermott.
“I love my underground brother for ever (sic).
“RIP Trevor Davis and Dylan Langridge. Some of the hardest works (sic) I have ever charged with and you will definitely not be forgot (sic).”
Meanwhile, Zach Penfound wrote “Rest easy my brother Dylan Langridge - You and Trev deserved so much more.”
A close friend of Mr Davis, Megan Weir wrote “I have stared at your photo and I have read the words over and over again but this still doesn’t feel real.
“Completely lost for words and heart broken. Rest in peace Trevor Davis and Dylan.
“Hug your miners tight today and before every shift as you never know when they might not tag off again.”
Dylan Langridge was 33 and joined Barminco in March 2020 as a truck operator at Savannah before joining the service crew at Dugald River later that year.
Dylan continued to progress his career at Dugald River and in October 2021 took up the role of charge up operator.
Trevor Davis was 36 and joined Barminco in August 2020 as a shotcrete operator at Rosemont, before transferring to Dugald River as a charge up operator in November 2021.
State Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the tragedy should never have happened, and the loss of life at a workplace at any time was unacceptable.
He said investigators from Resources Safety and Health Queensland were already on site.
“I expect a thorough investigation into how this happened,” Mr Stewart said.
“Families should be able to expect that when their loved ones depart for work that they return safely.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of Trevor Davis and Dylan Langridge who have passed away.”
EARLIER
MMG, which owns the mine, earlier revealed that “data captured from drone footage yesterday has enabled the rescue team to start active access to the vehicle which will involve reaching the vehicle from below”.
Dugald River mine General Manager, Tim Akroyd said that site’s priority was to reach the vehicle as soon as possible while ensuring the safety of the emergency response team.
“Our thoughts are with the families of our missing Barminco colleagues in what is an incredibly difficult time. We continue to extend our support,” he said.
QAS remained on standby about 2pm on Thursday, 30 hours after the mining incident is believed to have occurred.
The wife of a Dugald River miner said the colleagues of Mr Langridge and Mr Davis were in a state of “shock”.
“Our hearts broke yesterday … when these things happen it shocks the whole mining community,” she said.
“It’s such a remote area that the men & women out at Dugald are very close. They are family.
“These guys just started their swing (shift) Tuesday.”
‘ANXIOUS’ WAIT FOR LOCALS
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell said a “high level of concern and anxiety” had rippled through their small mining town amid the search, as details emerge about the missing miners.
The Courier-Mail understands that Mr Langridge, who is originally from Bundaberg, has worked as an underground miner at Dugald River since 2020.
Meanwhile, a former work colleague of Mr Davis has described ‘tricky Trev’ as a “likeable bloke”.
The close friend described any mining incident that involved stopes, an underground excavation, as “unforgiving”.
“I’ve worked at a few sites with accidents around stopes and there’s never been a good outcome,” he said.
The Courier-Mail understands that Mr Davis is originally from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales but has always worked in the mining industry.
Mr Campbell said the incident had “hit close to home” for many people in the local community.
“Even if local people didn’t know these two miners personally, everyone knows somebody that works at one of the mines in the shire – it’s definitely hit close to home,” he said.
“It’s highlighted that even with a number of levels of safety, especially with underground mining, it is still relatively dangerous.”
Specialist investigators who will determine the circumstances surrounding the incident arrived about 12pm and multiple paramedics were also inside at the mine.
It’s understood the mine has started to demobilise, with at least 20 miners expected to fly out of Cloncurry Airport on a chartered flight this afternoon.
But the general manager of the mine had cancelled his scheduled flight out of Cloncurry today while the emergency unfolds.
Another 90 workers are expected to leave tomorrow.
MASSIVE RESCUE OPERATION UNDERWAY
Perenti, parent company of Barminco which employs the underground workers at Dugald River mine, said early on Thursday morning that teams worked into the night and were trying to get access to the vehicle
“The rescue team have been working throughout the night including with the use of heavy underground mining equipment to gain access to the vehicle.”
It’s understood Barminco’s contract with MMG Limited was due to conclude within weeks at Dugald River mine.
Australian Workers Union Queensland state secretary Stacey Schinnerl said the immediate focus was on the safety and welfare of the two missing miners as well as the workers involved in the rescue effort.
“Anything beyond that, in terms of speculation as to what happened, how it happened, what controls were in place … we will deal with at the appropriate time,” she said.
“Today our only focus is on getting those gentlemen out.”
DRONES USED IN RESCUE MISSION
In a statement on Wednesday night, Perenti confirmed the drill operator was treated for non-life threatening injuries after he was rescued.
“We believe the two missing Barminco employees remain 125m below the surface and we are using drone technology to understand the specific conditions of the area,” the company said.
The drone used to search for the missing miners was fitted with technology to capture video and data regarding the size of the cavity where the ute is located.
“MMG has extended all available resources and support to Barminco and the Dugald River mine.”
Police and emergency services were called to the underground zinc mine about 1.05pm yesterday.
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said in a statement: “This kind of event is obviously the worst nightmare of any mining group and I know there is a lot of anxiety across the community right now.
“We are praying for a good outcome. My major concern is the wellbeing of these two employees and the task at hand to get them back safely to their families.”
Resources Minister Scott Stewart, in a statement, said he was hoping for “the best outcome for the missing workers”.
“Emergency services are responding and mine safety inspectors are expected on site shortly,” he said.
“My major concern is the welfare of these workers.”
Dugald River mine processes 1.7 million tonnes of ore per annum, with zinc, lead and silver by-products. It employs about 500 workers, with some based locally and others fly in, fly out. About 90 per cent are Australian nationals.
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