Newcrest in contact with trapped miner

 NEWCREST Mining says they have established contact with a trapped miner at their underground gold and silver mine in Indonesia.

The worker became stuck 300 metres underground on Monday after a geotechnical event occurred at Gosowong’s Kencana mine.

Chief executive officer Sandeep Biswas said the worker, Pak Mursalim Sahman, was verbally contacted in the morning via a small diameter hole drilled through 54 meters of ground to where he was located. “Kencana mine personnel were able to speak with Pak Mursalim and he confirmed that he is in good health and good spirit and that he has supplies of food and water,” he said.

“He only expressed concern about how his family had been faring.

“We are now preparing to send down additional water and food as well as a communication link.

“While this is a pleasing development, a lot of work remains to get Pak Mursalim out safely. 

“We are drawing upon expertise and assistance from other mining companies and specialist advisers who have led similar underground rescue efforts around the world.”

Biswas said they are not able to confirm when they were expected to extract him.

Newcrest said the cause of the incident would be the subject of a full and thorough investigation with the Indonesian Mines Inspectorate arriving on site and the company was willing to co-operate.