The spokespersons for the US Mine Safety and Health Administration and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training confirmed to ILN Friday afternoon that a 28-year-old worker was pinned against the rib by a continuous miner Thursday at 11.35pm local time at the Raleigh County mine.

 

The worker, whose name has not been released, was transported to a hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries. Both agencies confirmed that the worker died about 11.30am Friday.

 

WVOMHST’s Jama Jarrett told ILN that the male worker had five years experience, two at the mine owned by International Coal Group. No one else was injured in the incident.

 

State and federal officials have responded to the incident and are investigating the accident.

 

ICG spokesperson Ira Gamm confirmed the incident to ILN and noted that ICG Beckley Pocahontas was idled Friday out of respect to the victim and his family. The operator is also cooperating with the regulators’ investigations.

 

The death is the 33rd in the US this year, and the 30th in West Virginia. The other 29 were recorded April 5 after an explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine, also located in Raleigh County.