A 60-year-old worker has died and another has been seriously injured after a coal mine shaft collapsed in central Queensland.
The man and another man were trapped when a section of wall and ceiling the shaft they were working in collapsed at the Gregory Crinum Coal Mine, north of Emerald, about 11pm on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old suffered critical injuries with police confirming he died at the scene.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said the other man had initially been “encapsulated” with leg and pelvic injuries.
He was eventually was then freed before being airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital in a serious condition.
A third person suffered a “medical event” and was taken to Emerald Hospital for treatment.
The Gregory Crinum Coal Mine is operated by Sojitz Blue, the Australian subsidiary of Japan’s Sojitz Corporation.
The Queensland Mines Inspectorate is investigating the accident with Resources Minister Scott Stewart expected to make a statement to parliament later on Wednesday.
Source: 7 News
