Man dead in underground blast at Boulby Mine near Whitby

The worker killed as he did his job has been named locally as John Anderson.

Mr Anderson is believed to have been from the village of Easington - just a short distance from the mine operated by ICL UK.

Mine officials say the incident is believed to have involved a gas blow-out - a sudden and powerful release of gas.

The mine’s rescue team has been dealing with the incident and emergency services are at the scene.

All other employees were safely evacuated, owners ICL UK said.

One worker arriving at work for the day shift said there was mayhem and they were told to wait at the gatehouse as police and emergency services arrived at the scene.

Cleveland Police were called at 5.20am and officers remain at the scene “working to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident”, a spokeswoman said.

Her Majesty’s Mines Inspectorate has also been informed of the incident.

A spokesman said: “Company staff will be offering all possible support to the man’s family. All other workers in the mine at the time of the incident were safely evacuated.”

Boulby is one of Europe’s deepest mines, located on a 200-hectare site on the edge of the North York Moors. It is 1,400m deep and its tunnels go far out under the North Sea.

It mines potash, a key ingredient in making fertiliser.

Earlier, Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop, who represents Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “There has been a serious incident believed to be a gas explosion and we are waiting for further details about what has happened.”

His “thoughts and prayers” were with the workforce.

There was an underground fire at the mine in April, which left seven workers affected by smoke and they were taken to hospital for checks.

In 2014 the HM Inspectorate of Mines were called in when there was an underground collapse but no-one was injured.

In January 2012, a worker was airlifted to hospital after suffering chest injuries in an underground incident and eight months later, a mine worker was hurt when he was hit by falling debris.

Last year the company announced job losses in a “significant restructuring” of its operations, including moving from producing potash to Polysulphate fertiliser.