New Pike footage

New footage from inside the Pike River mine appears to contradict official reports that the 2010 blasts caused an inferno that would have destroyed everything inside. The footage, released to the families of the 29 men who died, was aired on Newshub last night. It was shot in 2011 by a camera lowered down borehole 44, which was drilled after the explosions. The footage shows rubber hoses and wooden pallets that appear unburned next to the coalface. British mine rescue consultant Brian Robinson said the video showed there had been no fire around borehole 44. Coal methane expert David Creedy agreed. Dr Nick Smith, Acting Conservation Minister for Pike River issues, said the expert reports never claimed the entire mine was an inferno. “There is nothing in the film released that changes anything in the technical reports. None of them claimed that every corner of the mine was burned to a cinder.” Smith said the question had always been whether it was safe to enter the drift — not the inner workings, where the footage was shot. “Even the families' experts who dispute the assessment as to whether it is safe to re-enter the drift of the mine conclude it is not safe to put men into the mine workings.”