Pitman’s widow sheds a tear as inquiry begins on how Kellingley’s roof fell in

Brenda Gibson was told that initial investigations had revealed her husband of 25 years died after the roofing system failed at Kellingley Colliery.

But the opening of the inquest was told it was likely to take six months to find out the whole truth as to why the roof supports had failed at Kellingley, Yorkshire’s largest remaining deep mine.

Gerry Gibson, 49, from Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire, died last Tuesday when he and a colleague were trapped by a rock fall in Kellingley Colliery.

Mine safety inspector, John Whyatt, told Monday’s hearing at Selby Magistrates Court: “It’s clear from my initial overview there had been a failure of the support system.

“We have taken into our possession a number of roof bolts which were part of the support system.

“It is quite important for us to understand the mode of failure. It has gone to our laboratory in Buxton.

“To do a proper analysis will take some time. Obviously, it’s top priority. A lot of resources are being put on it.

“I would expect it to be six months before a final report, based on my previous experience.

“One of our focuses is not just to understand what happened in this case. The really important part is to make sure measures are put in place to stop it ever happening again and that will take some time.”

Mrs Gibson was comforted by her son Sean, 21, as her husband’s provisional cause of death was given as mechanical asphyxia due to collapse of the mine roof.

She shook her head when asked if she had any questions, dabbed at her eyes, and said: “The main thing is make sure it never happens again.”

In a statement, she described identifying her husband’s remains at the viewing room at York District Hospital at 10.40am on September 29.

“I last saw Gerry at 6.50 hours on 27th September,” she added.

Her statement also revealed the couple, who also have another son, 18-year-old Andrew, would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on October 18.

She added that Scottish-born Mr Gibson, who would have turned 50 next month, had been a pitman since 1979 and worked at Kellingley since 2004.

Also present at the hearing were Mr Gibson’s brother Francis and sisters Claire Kelly and Kathleen Murphy.

Opening and adjourning the inquest until a later date, Coroner Rob Turnbull said: “The conclusion from the examination of Mr Gibson’s body was the cause of death was given as mechanical asphyxia due to the collapse of the mine roof.”

Earlier, Mr Whyatt described how the disaster had unfolded at Kellingley, near Knottingley.

He received a phone call shortly before 5pm from another inspector telling him “two men had been buried at Kellingley.” He was on site by 6.15pm, by which time both miners had been released but were still underground.

The other casualty, Philip Sheldon, was brought out alive and was being interviewed by Mr Whyatt in the back of an ambulance.

The inspector was taking notes of what had happened when Mr Gibson was brought into another ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

He knew as soon as he went down the pit that the roofing system had failed.

“I went underground that night to get an initial overview. I was the first man back on site to make sure the site was not disturbed,” he continued.

“At 1am I posted sentries to make sure no one came back on the face,” he added.

The death of Mr Gibson, is the third at Kellingley in three years.