A man, identified as a 37-year-old from Bruthen, has died after being trapped inside a Victorian goldmine following a collapse.
Search and rescue efforts were underway to retrieve the man after the incident on Wednesday afternoon.
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On Thursday morning, the Australian Workers Union confirmed the tragic news, revealing that they received a distressing call at 5am regarding the man’s demise.
He was one of two miners pinned by rocks, another younger miner, aged 21, was rescued and rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The minister for resources, Madeleine King, said she was “deeply saddened” about the miner’s death.
“Australia’s prosperity is built on the hard work of miners around the country,” Ms King said.
“Workers deserve to come home safe from a shift or a long swing away from home.”
Fortunately, 25 other miners who found refuge in a safety pod were successfully brought to the surface shortly after the collapse.
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said the incident would have been a “terrifying ordeal” for the miners.
“This is a family that will be grieving and also, our thoughts are with the seriously injured worker who has been taken for treatment for life threatening injuries to the Alfred Hospital.”
The Ballarat Gold Mine had previously witnessed a similar crisis in 2007 when 27 miners were trapped underground for hours before their eventual rescue.
Operational control of the mine was transferred to Victory Minerals in December 2023.
In response to the recent tragedy, the company released a statement affirming its commitment to the safety of its workers and the community.
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