The events unfolding in Chile have recalled painful memories for an Umhlanga woman whose late husband was part of a rescue team in a South African mine disaster in 1960.
There was no happy ending 50 years ago, and 435 miners died.
The Coalbrook Mine Disaster, near Sasolburg in the Free State, was the biggest mining disaster in the country. Miners were trapped for nine days 180m underground when the north shaft caved in.
Although the same rescue method used successfully in the Chile effort was employed, there were no survivors.
“They just did not have the type of technology available today. They tried to rescue them, but the mission was aborted at the last minute because it was just too dangerous,” said Aneen Bjorgan.
Her husband, Erik, who worked for the mine, was chosen to go down in an aluminium capsule similar to that used in the Chilean rescue.
Erik’s friend, John Prentice, 78, of Joburg, told The Mercury yesterday that Erik was chosen for the dangerous task because of his tiny frame and experience as part of the rescue team.
“Erik was 104 pounds (42kg) to be exact… they made an aluminium shaft so it would not spark if it hit the rocks, because the mine was highly flammable because of the gases underground.”
He said he remembered the day Erik was to go down in the capsule. “It was pouring with rain and Erik and my brother, Harry, were first hoisted down on tyre tubes and rope, but they could not get to the miners because the mouth of the mine had already caved in.”
Prentice said a drill was transported from the Northern Transvaal to the Free State over two days. “They began drilling, but could not drill too far because they were concerned about earth tremors that could cause the mine to collapse further.”
Bjorgan said Erik, who died in 2002, was inside the capsule and was being lowered when the mine manager stopped the rescue, saying it was just too dangerous.
“He was about to make contact (with the miners) when the whole operation was stopped because they discovered water down there and high levels of carbon monoxide.”
According to media reports at the time, four rescue attempts failed despite two drills being flown from Texas to bore through the rock and reach the miners.
The Rand Daily Mail reported: “The last rescue attempts have come to an end… despite the additional drilling power of two steel bits flown from Texas, despite the hypersensitive microphone, television camera, two-way radio… the shafts brought back no survivors.”
Bjorgan was amazed that the same rescue procedure performed at Coalbrook Mine 50 years ago was successfully used in Chile through the advancement of technology.
“It sends shivers down your spine when you see this (the rescue in Chile), when the same thing happened here all those years ago. It is tragic that those men were never rescued, and it reminds you that mines are dangerous places. It is such a risk for those men who go down there every day.”
The 33 miners in Chile were trapped underground for 69 days and are being rescued via a shaft drilled through solid rock. With ingenuity and cutting-edge technology, the men survived about 625m underground, fending off hunger, anxiety and illness in a record-setting feat of survival. - The Mercury