First foray into Pike
“We haven’t forgotten, we’re coming for you . . . we won’t give up.”
Those were the tearful words of a widow, nine years after losing her husband in the Pike River Mine disaster.
There were tears, hugs, brave faces and bunched flowers outside the West Coast mine entrance yesterday.
The November 2010 tragedy claimed 29 lives.
Two dozen family members were allowed 170m into the drift — the start of the long tunnel that leads to the mine itself. Among them were Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, who for years have fought for the mine reentry.
They were accompanied by survivor Daniel Rockhouse. It was first time he had been so far into the tunnel since the day he left it, lucky to be alive.
The women said it was very emotional.
Rockhouse said it was a huge thing for her son to enter the mine.
“He’s a big part of this. He’s the last one that’s seen any of the guys alive.”
“It’s very difficult for him, he’s got survivor’s guilt and probably always will.”
Some family members carried out rocks, wanting to take something tangible home.
A tearful Osborne, who lost her husband, Milton, in the explosion, said: “I was able to put my hands on the seal and talk to Milton and I almost felt him there. “It’s the closest I’ve been to Milton in more than nine years.”
Osborne, who is part of the Family Reference Group, which is being consulted on the re-entry, said: “I just said to him that we hadn't forgotten to him. We are coming to you, we're getting closer and I hope he's proud of us because we won't give up.”
Osborne said it was dark and cold in the mine, and water was dripping from the ceiling as they walked to and from the sealed area.
Pike River Recovery Agency chief operating officer Dinghy Pattinson said taking the families inside was a significant milestone.
He said the agency was waiting on the green light from WorkSafe, which has to approve the plan to push beyond the 170-metre seal.
It’s the closest I’ve been to Milton in more than nine years. Widow Anna Osborne