One Of Four Trapped Miners Found Dead

One of the four trapped minors, stranded in a flooded mine in Swansea, has been found dead.

The men have been trapped in the flooded Gleision Colliery near Cilybebyll, Pontardawe for over 24 hours, as rescuers continue their attempts to reach the men.

On Friday morning, the BBC released the names of the men as Charles Breslin, 62; David Powell, 50; and Garry Jenkins, 39, from the Swansea Valley; and Phillip Hill, 45, of Neath. However, the name of the deceased is not yet known.

Superintendent Phil Davies said: "A miner has been found. He is deceased. We are not in a current position to recover him from the mine and therefore we don't know the identity of that person."

In a press conference on Friday morning, Chris Margetts, from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the miner that was found was in a different section of the mine.

"He was basically on the exit side on the body of water. So therefore the search and rescue mission continues because there are still air pockets on the other side of the body of water and there is a blockage down there yet to be searched."

Meanwhile, MP for the area, Peter Hain, has said he has had conversations with those in charge of the rescue operation and has sought assurances that they have all the resources available to rescue the men.

“I have asked the Government in Westminster for additional mines rescue staff, facilities and resources if these are needed," Mr Hain said. “There must be no effort spared to ensure the men are brought to safety.”

Mr Hain added that he was "deeply concerned" and was immediately seeking information on their predicament.

The incident began on Thursday morning and, last night, divers had to abandon their efforts after about 30 metres due to the hazardous conditions of the water.

(DW/GK)