Conrad Adams

Conrad Adams. Photo / Supplied

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Conrad John Adams, 43, was born in New Zealand and lived in Greymouth.

His brother, Clayton Adams, said Conrad had two children who he "loved more than anything in the world".

"He adored his mother; he was a brother-in-law and older brother that we all looked up to," Mr Adams said.

Conrad, who had worked in gold and coal mines for 25 years, was a keen sportman who enjoyed diving and ran ultra-marathons.

He attended Highveld Park High school in Secunda, a mining town in South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

One of his former classmates, Kerry Williams, described him as a "real comedian - a funny guy who was always making jokes".

Conrad worked in the mines in Secunda for a number of years after he finished high school, said Mr Williams.

The pair lost contact for a time but resumed their friendship when Mr Williams moved to New Zealand.

Conrad described himself as Christian on his Facebook page and many of the messages friends sent him after the explosion included blessings and prayers.

His Linkedin profile says he was a deputy at Pike River Coal Mine.

Mr Adams said he and his family had been overwhelmed by the support from the local community following the death of his brother and the 28 other men.

"As non members of the community who've just flown in, we just can't express how great it's been to have the support of the Greymouth community," he said.