Miner battles the odds

Helensburgh mine worker Gary Hammond remained in hospital late last month after surviving a freak accident that nearly claimed his life.

Gary suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a chain from a conveyor belt while doing maintenance work seven kilometres underground at Helensburgh’s Metropolitan Colliery.

He was left unconscious and, at one stage, his family was told he may not survive.

Gary underwent emergency surgery at St George Hospital and was initially listed as critical. Three weeks after the accident, he was listed as stable and improving.

It is believed the experienced miner had been pulling a chain attached to mining equipment when the chain snapped, striking him on the head.

Colliery general manager Tony De Santis was quoted in the Illawarra Mercury as saying the accident happened at the longwall face of the mine, which was not operating at the time.

“The injured employee is an experienced miner, having worked in a number of mines in the Illawarra,” he said.

“He was working as part of a crew of six employees who were commissioning the longwall following a recent longwall move.”

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union district vice-president Graham White said investigations would determine if any safety improvements were needed.

“There isn’t a coalmine that has got a perfect safety record, but they do everything they can to make things safe,” he said. “Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery’s safety record is pretty good. This was a freak accident that occurred.”