Man injured in accident with hose at potash mine

The man, who is in his 50s, was working in an underground drill bay at the Boulby mine on Wednesday morning when a hose unexpectedly burst and pushed him back against a skip.

After receiving first aid underground, he was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by air ambulance.

Cleveland Potash Limited (CPL), which runs the mine, said he was kept in overnight and was expected to be discharged yesterday.

The probe into the incident has been launched by the company and union representatives, and it has been reported to the Inspectorate for further investigation.

Dave McLuckie, CPL external affairs manager, said: “CPL would like to stress that it places the highest possible emphasis on the safety of its workforce.

“The company wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Boulby mine is a 490-acre site located just southeast of the village of Boulby, on the northeast coast of the North York Moors. It is Europe’s second deepest mine at 4,600ft producing half of the UK’s output of potash.