Two die while trying to find missing miner

MINING giant Sibanye Stillwater has confirmed the deaths of two members of a search-and-rescue team that died looking for a missing employee who had gone underground to fix electrical issues.

A spokesperson for the mine, James Wellsted, said the dead employees were part of a six-person proto team conducting search-and-rescue operations in a raise line (vertical or inclined excavation) in Westonaria, where the employee was reported as missing.

Based on information received, the two employees were overcome by heat during the search.

Wellsted said there were four rescuers and one experienced dizziness and other problems due to the underground heat. His partner stayed with him while two others went for help but on their return both were dead.

“Sibanye-Stillwater regretfully confirms that two members of its mine rescue team passed away on the evening of Sunday, September 19, while conducting search operations at Kloof Thuthukani Shaft. The employee was reported as missing on the morning of Sunday when he did not return to the station with his team after completing planned routine repairs,” Wellsted said.

He said the board and management of Sibanye-Stillwater extended their sincere condolences to family, friends and colleagues of the dead employees “and those impacted”.

The causes of these incidents would be investigated once the search-andrescue operation was concluded, he added.

Search operations would continue for the missing employee, but Wellsted said some of the shafts would be properly ventilated so that the teams were not overcome by heat.

The Star understands that temperatures underground can reach as high as 50ºC.

It is not clear what happened to the missing employee but his safety belt and water bottle were found.