‘Unthinkable’: Friends reveal sweet side of tough miners lost in tragedy

Friends of the two miners lost in a tragic incident at a Queensland mine last week have launched a fundraiser to assist their families, revealing sweet details and describing the event as ‘unthinkable’.

The heartbroken colleagues of two workers killed in a mine collapse in northwest Queensland last week have launched a GoFundMe following the “unthinkable” loss.

Barminco employees Dylan Langridge, 33, from Bundaberg and Trevor Davis, 36, from Pimpama on the Gold Coast, died after their vehicle fell down the void within a previously backfilled stope at the MMG Dugald River underground mine near Cloncurry in northwest Queensland.

Their bodies were brought back to the surface on Friday.

“Losing a friend is never easy. Losing two at the same time is unthinkable,” the GoFundMe reads.

“But losing two friends that form a part of such a small tight-knit crew and community, there are simply no words to describe how much harder that hits.”

Dylan Langridge, 33, from Bundaberg and Trevor Davis, 36, from Pimpama.

The GoFundMe, organised by Steven Poznik and Buddy Conway described Mr Langridge as having a “grin that spoke more than words ever could”.

“You’re as tough as they come and yet you had a caring and sweet side that those fortunate enough to be close to you got to enjoy.

“A loving father that would do anything for his children and a crew mate who will be sorely missed by all.”

Meanwhile, Mr Davis ‘Trev’ was referred to by the nickname “little sexy”.

“I can still see that full body chuckle, it rolls up past your belly ending in a nod you just can’t seem to shake, never taking anything too seriously.

“For such a little dude you had such a big presence.

“You’d always put others first and you’ve left a mark on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside you.

“To show our love and respect, fellow miners from their crew at Duglad River have banded together for this fundraiser to show their support.”

The GoFundMe states that 100 per cent of the proceeds will be “divided and passed on to Trevor’s family and Dylan’s Brother to provide support to their loved ones and children, it will also help with the immediate costs involved.”

Early investigations by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) show the cavernous hole or “stope void” was caused due to “bogging operations” on the level below where the men were working.

In underground hard-rock mining horizontal tunnels are excavated to access the ore.

The incident at Dugald River mine occurred 125m underground, with the next level further down at 150m.

A “stope” is created when rubble falls into the vertical hole created by a safe and controlled explosion prepared with the help of a drilling rig.

Removing material from the stope is called “bogging”.

It is “unknown at this stage” why bogging operations were being carried out, according to the RSHQ.

It’s understood the drill rig the survivor was operating fell about 15m down the stope when the earth collapsed beneath him, and the operator radioed mine managers about what happened.

Police on Friday confirmed they had managed to retrieve the vehicle, assisting specialist staff from Mines Inspectorate and RSHQ, who worked throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

The men were located dead shortly before 5pm on Thursday.

It is understood the ute was lodged in the stope between two levels: the 125m and 150m accesses.

Rescue crews worked up from the 150m point, pulling rocks out until they made contact with the vehicle.

It’s understood the vehicle was “mangled” and the bodies of both men were still inside.

The car, which was able to be removed from the stope, was then loaded onto a truck and driven to the surface.

The bodies of both men have also been taken away from the mine with a report to be prepared for the coroner.