In memory of the 29 Pike River Miners in New Zealand.

[Emanuel]

We are a small country and it is a sad and tragic day today. 29 good hard working men have died.

Sadly we were not lucky enough to have the same excellent outcome as did Chile and more recently China. Our 29 miners are now considered to have died if not 5 days ago in the initial explosion, then in today's second major explosion in the mine. Rescue personel have moved from a rescue to a recovery operation (there's actually more to be said about that, in the way the entire operation was conducted, but that's for other people and another time).

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In memory of the Pike River Miners

Remembering the lives of the Pike River miners. See photos of the men below.
One of them only just turned 17, it was his first day at work.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pike-river-miners/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=1503001

 

[Esav Benyamin]

My condolences. I was very unhappy to hear about the outcome. Sometimes there's nothing you can do but mourn, and comfort the survivors.

 

[jill jackson]

Looking at their pictures sure chokes me up. Very sad what else can be said.

 

[roughedges]

^^ What they said. My condolences as well.

 

[knarfeng]

Our condolences.

 

[Steven65]

My thoughts and prayers are with those families tonight.
I know that there was one South African who was down there with them.....

A terrible tragedy.

Steven

 

[TyMathews]

My prayers and condolences go out to the miners and their families. Truly heartbreaking.

-Tye

 

[glockman99]

That just sucks. Sorry for the loss of your fellow countrymen..

 

[dttomcat]

As happy as we were when the Chileans were rescued, so sad should we be about the tragic loss of these hardworking miners. The souls of these men and the loved ones they leave behind will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[parbajtor]

Sad day, my condolences

 

[Emanuel]

My thoughts and prayers are with those families tonight.
I know that there was one South African who was down there with them.....

A terrible tragedy.

Steven

That's right, I should have mentioned that in my post.

Two of the men are from Australia, two from Scotland and one from South Africa.

William John (Willy) Joynson, 49, Australia
Joshua Adam Ufer, 25, Australia

Malcolm Campbell, 25, Greymouth (Scotland)
Peter James Rodger , 40, Greymouth (Scottish)

Jacobus (Koos) Albertus Jonker, 47, Cobden (South African)

 

[Robert.B]

definitely a tragic event! you see the hope that was spawned by the Chilean mine incident and then the feeling just bottoms out with the lack of hope involved with this tragic accident.

Condolences go out to the families.

 

[GIRLYmann]

very tragic event,
quite horrible for the families involved with the holiday season so near :-(
i do honestly appreciate the fact that such individuals brave dangerous occupations so that the rest wouldn't have to.
for this i salute their ultimate sacrifice as something not being in vain,
but in order that their fellow man may live in warmth and comfort.
prayers out to a grieving nation.

 

[untamed]

So sorry to hear the news. My condolences as well.

 

[Emanuel]

I think this is the perfect memorial song for these 29 men:

[youtube]dQ03ngpdU80[/youtube]

 

[Rugger]

Kia Ora Emanuel,
Condolences for the loss. Comfort to the loved ones of the lost. Honor their memories.

Here's a tune that fits (about the Mann Gulch fire, 1949):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgQNeGPJdcQ&feature=related