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Peter James Rodger, 40, moved to New Zealand two years ago to be closer to his mother and sister, and lived with his Kiwi girlfriend, Dianne Morris.
Originally from Perth in Scotland, the former oil rig worker made the switch to mining after sustaining a leg injury in the North Sea.
According to the Scotsman, Peter attended Perth Grammar School and began working at the mine as a mechanic in April.
Childhood friend Simon Martin told The Courier Peter "jumped" at the chance to move overseas.
He said Peter was a great friend.
"When I was wee he used to look out for me. He's a great guy and a great friend. Really funny too."
Mr Martin's wife, Caira, added: "It doesn't seem real, especially so soon after the Chilean miners were trapped."
Another friend, Gary Fraser, told the BBC Peter was a "strong character" and that this was the second time he had been trapped this year.
The Herald Scotland said he was trapped underground for eight hours just three months ago, after another mining accident.
Mr Fraser said Peter had been best man at his wedding in Jamaica just a few months ago.
Former neighbour John Daniel, 59, told the Sunday Telegraph Peter had "just settled himself down over there - he had been through a difficult time. Between him being on the rigs in the North Sea and going over to New Zealand, he had worked in Africa - somewhere like Angola".
"Peter just wanted to make the most of life and just took everything as it came."
Speaking to the BBC after news of the second explosion, Mr Daniel said: "It's a terrible waste. We just can't get his smiling face out of our minds.
"He was an excellent neighbour. He was working away a lot on the rigs and I was working away overseas at times and we used to look after each other's houses.
"He always had a cheerful word for you. He was great."
