Why wouldn't you give it a go?". “It finally feels like we might be able to get some truth.”. Prime Minister John Key pledged $10 million for the re-entry if the plan was safe, technically feasible and financially credible. One of the things we need is an explosives expert underground. Mine worker Bryan Heslip, Pike River widow Anna Osborne and mother Sonya Rockhouse after travelling 170m up the mine tunnel. He's like answers, closure, even an apology. "I believe that some of them survived and made an attempt to escape the mine. What more can they do? Although initially overcome, Daniel Rockhouse rescued himself and his colleague Russell Smith. He was right on one count. Man arrested after alleged stabbing in Parnell backpackers, 'It's not good news at all': Snake-bitten Pete Bethune's health deteriorates, Dramatic pic shows injured climbers roped to side of mountain, Waikeria Prison riot: Prisoners light 'significant fires' overnight, 'Only in New Zealand': Jacinda Ardern's 'Kiwi as' start to the year in beach town, 'World will be amazed': UK writer's bold America's Cup predictions. "Mum's so determined that she's not going to give up until the bitter end. READ MORE: * Pike River survivor five years on: 'I'm alive. "I get that people are sick of hearing about it. We've got a caravan and a couple of BBQs, people have been bringing us food and aroha, occasionally the plainclothes cop car swings by to keep an eye on us. It might take a while, but it would happen. Pike River survivor twice delayed from entering mine. One of only two men to survive the Pike River mine disaster is working in a Queensland mine and has now shared his tragic story of how the disaster tore apart his family. 6:30. November 11, 2010: Department of Labour lays charges in the Greymouth District Court for health and safety failings against Mr Whittall, Pike River subcontractor VLI Drilling and Pike River Coal. The Ne… January 14, 2010: Police abandon attempts to recover the 29 bodies. "I think they've just tried to ease us into it by delaying it and pushing it back and back year after year. Specialist equipment is flown in to help rescue the miners, but they cannot be reached for days because of high gas levels. However, there are a lot of unknowns between then and now.”. "I'm part of this tragedy and I'm dealing with it the best I can. November 2013: Work begins to plug the mine's shaft. A survivor of the Pike River disaster will not return from Australia for the mine recovery’s next major milestone. Sonya Rockhouse was at Thursday’s event for families. Two men survived the explosion. I would have been badly injured, maybe killed, but that’s what saved me, tucked behind that door,” he said. Pike River survivor Russell Smith and Pike River family members Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne talk about an important milestone in the drift (mine access tunnel) recovery. At night it's quiet except for the sound of the wind and the bush. Between the whole world and whatever evidence of what happened is down there. A Pike River survivor says politicians need to put aside arguments about leaked video from the mine and just get the 29 bodies out. Rockhouse’s loader will be the next large item recovered from the drift, expected at the end of August. Its primary operation was the Pike River Mine, the site of a mining disaster with 29 deaths on 19 November 2010.. Pike River survivor five years on: 'I'm alive. Daniel Rockhouse was refilling his loader in the tunnel when he was blown off his feet by the explosion. A number of safety failings at Pike River are highlighted by witnesses. Pike River Coal says it will not fight the 10 charges it faces. Supplied / Pike River Recovery A. Rockhouse said the fight for answers had been traumatising, stressful and emotional - to the point where he had stepped away. “Daniel was concerned about how Russell was, seeing it come out. The Pike River mine drift will be re-entered, eight years since multiple explosions occurred at the mine on November 19, 2010. December 2013: The Crown announces that charges against former Pike River Coal boss Peter Whittall have been dropped. November 19, 2010: Methane ignites, causing an explosion in the mine. As teams prepare for entry to Pike River, Daniel Rockhouse tells the story that changed his life. November 26, 2010: A third, smaller explosion is followed by a fourth explosion which ignites coal in the mine. The loader driven by one of the two men to survive the Pike River Mine explosion 10 years ago was pulled out of the drift this week by the Pike River Recovery Agency underground team. Nick Smith's announcement to delay the final closure of the mine was bittersweet for Daniel Rockhouse. The journey down the Pike River mine drift. The Government is also criticised for watering down regulations and the mining inspectorate. He believed evidence of what caused the series of explosions could still be gathered from equipment the mine. November 24, 2010: After a second explosion, Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall tells families of the 29 miners that there is no chance the workers are still alive. February 26, 2013: After a five hour meeting of 21 global mining experts, including representatives of the Government's newly-formed High Hazards Unit, Solid Energy, Mines Rescue, and consultants hired by Pike families, families are left confident bodies could be recovered. On Friday 19 November 2010 at 3:45pm there was an underground explosion at the Pike River coal mine. That's the way to look at it' * Two more robots recovered from Pike River mine * Pike River victims' families enter mine drift. As on any workday, men entered and left the mine at different times. ", November 13: The final sealing off of the mine, planned for this week, is delayed for a week to allow families to mark the sixth anniversary of the disaster. 1 Min Read. Nothing changed. Russell Smith with his loader from the explosion inside the Pike River mine. “If I hadn’t been in that [loader], I don’t know what would have happened. They were in the stone access tunnel (drift), a distance from the pit bottom area where the main workplaces were located. I used to think that we lived in a country where people could get justice. We'll be here for a while yet. 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