Rescue crews recovered the physique of a “heroic” West Virginia coal miner who was trapped in a set of flooded mines for 4 days, officers introduced on Thursday.
Steven Lipscomb, a 42-year-old married father of two and retired Marine, was discovered useless in Rolling Thunder Mine shortly after 7:30 a.m., West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed in an announcement on X.
Alpha Metallurgical Assets, the corporate that owns the mine that flooded on Saturday, additionally corroborated stories of Lipscomb's loss of life in a statement.
“Our hearts are damaged. Steve joined our firm in 2006 and was a devoted worker, revered chief and good friend to many. His actions to make sure the security of his crew members had been heroic. On behalf of all the group, we lengthen our prayers and deepest sympathies to his spouse, two kids and all who knew and cared for him,” CEO Andy Eidson stated.
Eidson added that Lipscomb was “final seen making an attempt to make sure his crew made it out” of the mines after the crew hit an unknown pocket of water, which sparked a flood.
Rescuers spared no expense whereas attempting to rescue Lipscomb, together with constantly pumping a whopping 6,000 gallons of water out of the flooded mine each minute, which equated to roughly an inch of water every hour, in accordance with Morrisey.
The Nicholas County Homeland Safety was additionally prepared with underwater drones, which might be used to find and talk with Lipscomb when sufficient water was drained from the mine.
Lipscomb is believed to have been trapped roughly three-quarters of a mile beneath the mountain.
“Over the previous a number of days, crews have labored across the clock with braveness, ability, and dedication, doing all the things humanly potential to convey their colleague house. Their dedication and teamwork replicate the easiest of West Virginia,” Morrisey stated at an power summit on Thursday.
“Our state is aware of this type of ache all too effectively. Mining is greater than an business right here — it's a brotherhood, a lifestyle, and a supply of satisfaction. When tragedy strikes, we grieve collectively, we stand collectively, and we assist each other as one West Virginia household.”
Lipscomb is the second miner to be killed on the job in West Virginia this month.
Joey Mitchell Jr., a 25-year-old scoop operator, died in an accident at Mount Storm. One other employee was additionally injured, however state officers didn't elaborate on the character of the accident.
