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Source: ONE News -
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The 29 Pike River miners were killed either immediately on November 19 in a "substantial explosion" or died within minutes from exposure to acute hypoxia.
That was the conclusion of Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean at
the inquest into the miners' deaths held in Greymouth today. This
afternoon at the conclusion of the inquest he said death
certificates would now be issued to miners' families. The fee would
be waived, he added.
Superintendent Gary Knowles, who was in charge of the rescue
operation, had earlier told the inquest that oxygen samples taken
from the bore hole before the second exposion showed oxygen levels
were at 1%.
When oxygen levels are below 7%, unconciousness occurs rapidly and death usually follows, he said.
The concentration of carbon monoxide would have been fatal, the court heard.
The expert medical opinion on the chance of survival in the mine was sought by police from Dr Robin Griffiths at the University of Otago.
Dr Griffiths, Knowles said, gave his professional opinion that the miners would have been unconscious almost immediately following the explosion and would have remained unconscious until death within minutes.
The first and second explosions are likely to have caused temperatures up to 2000 degrees Celsius, Knowles said, citing experts.
Family members, friends and media had packed the small Greymouth District Courthouse to hear the formal cause of the men's deaths, as well as formal confirmation of identities to allow death certificates to be issued.
Each family was allowed two representatives.
Wider issues concerning the cause and possible prevention of the mine tragedy would be covered later by a Royal Commission of Inquiry.
Hero in the mine
Knowles was first to give evidence this morning. He told the court one of the men in the mine, Daniel Rockhouse, was working about halfway into the mine when the blast happened.
Rockhouse saw a "white flash", was blown off his feet, and was deafened by the noise.
The mine filled with smoke and he could smell carbon monoxide, Knowles said.
He was able to put on a gas mask on, but panicked and fell unconscious for about 20 minutes.
He then and was able to get to an oxygen valve and also rang the mine base to alert them to the explosion.
"He made his way back out of the mine where he came across another miner, Russell Smith," Knowles said.
Smith was semi-conscious but unable to put a gas mask on, so Rockhouse picked him up and dragged him further back down the mine shaft.
When Smith was recovered enough he was able to walk by himself.
The pair kept stopping on their way back to check for light and
any sign of life, but none could be seen,Knowles said.
Read details from how the inquest happened here.
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