NEED TO KNOW
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A foreman has been found dead days after the West Virginia mine he was working in flooded
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Steve Lipscomb, 42, “was last seen attempting to ensure his crew made it out safely,” according to Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc.
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Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the flood was caused when “an old mine wall was compromised”
A miner has been found dead days after he went missing when the West Virginia mine he was in flooded.
The body of foreman Steve Lipscomb was found shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 13, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced in a post on X.
Rescuers were able to safely enter the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County around 6 a.m. after water levels inside the mine “receded sufficiently,” Morrisey said. A two-man team found Lipscomb’s body about 90 minutes later.
Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc., which owns the mine, confirmed the foreman’s death in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“This morning’s news is absolutely heartbreaking,” Morrisey said in a statement. “Denise and I are devastated to learn of the loss of Mr. Lipscomb, and we are praying for his family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time.”
The mine, near Belva, W.V., flooded on Saturday, Nov. 8 when “a crew in the underground mine encountered a sudden and substantial inflow of water” during Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc., described as “routine operations.”
The flood was caused when “an old mine wall was compromised,” Morrisey said in a previous post on X.
Lipscomb, 42, of Elkview, “was last seen attempting to ensure his crew made it out safely,” according to Alpha’s news release.
Crews worked “around the clock in 12-hour shifts” as they spent days searching for Lipscomb, Morrisey said.
“Over the past several days, crews have worked around the clock with courage, skill, and determination, doing everything humanly possible to bring their colleague home,” Morrisey said in his latest post on X. “Their commitment and teamwork reflect the very best of West Virginia.”
Lipscomb joined Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc. in 2006, according to a statement from Andy Eidson, Alpha’s chief executive officer. He described the late foreman as “a dedicated employee, respected leader and friend to many.”
“His actions to ensure the safety of his crew members were heroic,” Eidson said. “On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to his wife, two children and all who knew and cared for him.”
He later added, “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the mine rescue teams, agency officials, and all who worked tirelessly under extreme conditions throughout the multi-day rescue and recovery effort. We are deeply saddened by the outcome, but thankful for the courage, professionalism and perseverance of these responders.”
Meanwhile, Morrisey said that he and his wife, First Lady Denise Morrisey, “are keeping Mr. Lipscomb’s family, friends, and fellow workers in their prayers.”
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“Our state knows this kind of pain all too well. Mining is more than an industry here — it’s a brotherhood, a way of life, and a source of pride,” Morrisey said. “When tragedy strikes, we grieve together, we stand together, and we support one another as one West Virginia family.”
This is the third death at an Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc. facility in West Virginia this year, according to the Associated Press. The other two deaths occurred in nearby Raleigh County.
The first death occurred on Feb. 28, “when a portion of rib rock fell” on 46-year-old Billy Stalker, who had 28 years of mining experience, according to a final report published by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The second death occurred on Aug. 26 when the elevator descended and struck 41-year-old Eric Bartram, an electrician, on the first-floor platform, according to a preliminary report from the same agency.
Alpha said it “is working closely with federal and state authorities to conduct a thorough investigation” into the Saturday accident “and its underlying causes.”
Read the original article on People
