The parents of tragic Fife man Malcolm Campbell said they felt like they were getting “back on the rollercoaster”, as efforts to pull their son’s body from his makeshift grave in New Zealand’s Pike River mine were postponed.
Malcolm, from Cameron near St Andrews, was among 29 people killed when a series of explosions ripped through the mine last November. The blasts also claimed the life of Perth man Pete Rodger.
Efforts to recover their bodies had been due to commence on Monday six agonising months after the disaster.
However, tests revealed gas levels had risen to “dangerous” levels, leaving the mine unstable and potentially unsafe.
News of yet another delay was met with disappointment by Malcolm’s mother, Jane.
“We have been up and down so often now that we take everything with a pinch of salt,” she told The Courier.
“The latest is that the recovery operation has now been put back by another week.
“We are just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that things will have stabilised sufficiently by then.”
Malcolm’s family are desperate to bring his body home so he can be laid to rest at a local graveyard, next to his beloved grandparents, who both passed away in the last year.
John Fisk, of Pike River Coal Limited, confirmed that efforts to recover the bodies of the 29 men still entombed in the mine had been delayed.
“We have been advised by the experts involved that increased gas levels make it too unsafe to start work,” he said.
“This is a temporary setback but we realise the delay is frustrating for all those parties involved.
“Ensuring everyone’s safety is our paramount concern. We are committed to stabilising the mine…and have informed the families of the 29 men.
“We will continue to provide updates on any further developments,” Mr Fisk added.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, admits the recovery operation is anything but straight-forward.
In the six months since the disaster, nobody has entered the mine. “If you look internationally, typically, these things are dangerous, complex and take a very long period of time,” Mr Key said.
“The international mine inspectors we have spoken to have said that in some instances you can never get in the mines.”
Meanwhile, an international mine safety expert believes entry into the collapsed structure will be “very difficult.”
David Feickert said rescue crews would have to feel their way along the tunnel, carrying breathing gear and being constantly vigilant of any new rock fall, which could trap them inside the mine.