A missing coal miner, foreman Steve Lipscomb, was found dead in the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County, West Virginia, after being trapped for nearly a week. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that rescue crews located Lipscomb’s body at 7:37 a.m. on Thursday (November 13). The discovery came after water levels in the mine receded enough for rescue teams to safely enter the site at approximately 6:00 a.m.
Lipscomb was trapped when a section of the mine wall collapsed, causing flooding on Saturday (November 8). Rescue efforts involved specialized dive teams and extensive de-watering operations. Crews worked tirelessly in 12-hour shifts to locate their colleague, with approximately eight workers on the surface coordinating and loading supplies, and another eight staging and fusing a new waterline.
Governor Morrisey and First Lady Denise Morrisey expressed their condolences, stating they were heartbroken by the tragic loss. “Today, we grieve for this terrible tragedy and honor the life of one of our own,” the governor said in a statement posted on X.
The Rolling Thunder Mine is owned by Alpha Metallurgical Resources and is located near Swiss in Nicholas County.
Recent Comments