Loader driven by Pike River survivor recovered

The loader was pulled out of the drift this week by the Pike River Recovery Agency underground team. Photo / Pike River Recovery Agency

The loader driven by one of the two men to survive the Pike River Mine explosion 10 years ago was pulled out of the drift this week by the Pike River Recovery Agency underground team.

The loader was being driven by Russell Smith on November 19, 2010, when the mine exploded, killing 29 men.

The recovery team reached the machine at the 1575m mark late last week, and removed it on Tuesday by pushing and pulling it with loaders on either side.

Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little, said the recovery meant they were now moving into an area of the Pike River Mine that had not been seen since the explosion.

"The fifth and last robot was recovered before the loader, and now there's several hundred metres of previously unexplored drift and roadways in the Pit Bottom in Stone area that have not been seen since 2010.

The loader was being driven by Russell Smith on November 19, 2010 when the mine exploded. Photo / Pike River Recovery Agency

"We've reached a significant point in the recovery which is about trying to find out why the 29 men who went to work on 19 November, 2010 didn't come home."

The $51 million recovery is nearing the end of the drift (entry tunnel) and the project.

- Greymouth Star