Mine rescue attempt defended

THE safety manager of the West Coast copper mine where two workers fell to their death has told an inquest rescuers could not have reached the men any quicker.

Craig Gleeson, 45, and Alistair Lucas, 25, died at Queenstown’s Mount Lyell mine on December 9, 2013, when the wooden platform they were working on gave way.

Safety manager Phillip Kemp, who was the emergency response co-ordinator on the day, defended a decision to have rescuers abseil down a 22m shaft to reach them.

The inquest had previously heard it would have been quicker to use the mine’s ladder system.

But Mr Kemp, who has 30 years of experience running emergency rescues, yesterday said the ladder suggestion came from someone who has “no idea what they’re talking about”.

“That ladder had not been inspected for some time. In my experience they rust. To me that became a non-workable rescue method,” he told the inquest.

“I could put a man right next to the casualty in a faster time with far less risk.”

Mr Kemp said it was the “only plausible way” to reach the two men.

“I don’t believe we could have done [the rescue] better.”

Lachlan Brown and Robert Butterfield were the first to reach Mr Gleeson and Mr Lucas. Mr Kemp hailed them as heroes.

“There was no backup com- ing. Both these guys didn’t like heights, especially underground,” he said.

Mr Gleeson died at the scene and Mr Lucas was brought to the surface but died in an ambulance. Mr Kemp was above ground when alerted to their fall at 9.10am.

An ambulance wasn’t called until about 90 minutes later but Mr Kemp said that wasn’t surprising as mine rescue teams were considered the best first responders.

The inquest has been adjourned until June.