Pike River disaster a 'rerun' of 1986 horror

The opening of the Pike River mine before the blast. Photo / NZ Herald

An Australian mine expert says the Pike River coal mine emergency is a "rerun" of the disaster that has haunted him for decades.

Forty-year mine safety veteran John Brady was inspector at Queensland's Moura #4 mine when it was hit by an explosion in 1986.

Rescuers were within metres of 12 trapped miners when Mr Brady called them out of the mine due to "off the chart" gas readings.

It was eight days before teams could reenter the mine to recover the bodies of the men.

That same long, anxious wait for gas levels to stabilise is now being repeated at Pike River, he says.

Though it is hard for families and the wider community, he says New Zealand rescuers are doing the right thing refusing to enter the mine.

"What's happening at the moment is almost a re-run of Moura #4. I've been in the same position as they are. They'll be going through exactly the same things I went through.

"No way would I send rescuers into Pike River. It's too big a risk."

There is still a good chance there will be a second explosion in the Pike River mine shaft, he says.

"We ventilate mines to clear them of flammable gasses and if you have one interruption that means gasses will build up. The longer you leave it there's going to be more gasses building up. There's going to be fires burning. A second explosion is almost inevitable.

"It could be days before they can go in."

The Moura #4 explosion happened on July 16 at 11:05am after a roof fall ignited a methane build up.

Two rescue teams found scenes of devastation when they entered the mine at 12:05 and 12:15pm.

They were about 200m from the area where the trapped men were when Mr Brady called them back due to unsafe gas levels.

He had to wait eight days before pumping inert gasses into the mine, ending any hopes of bringing the trapped miners out alive.

Rescuers were then able to enter the mine and recover the bodies.

Mr Brady's decision to call out the recuers on the day of the explosion has haunted him ever since.

"I still have nightmares about it. Every day I think 'could it have been different.'

"It has the hardest decision I ever had to make but it was the only one I could take.

"Now they're making that same decision at Pike River. I wish I could be there to support them. You can see why people never get over it."

Mr Brady also wrote the report on the 1994 Moura #2 mine disaster.

It has been quoted by Prime Minister John Key as an example of why rescuers should not enter the Pike River mine.

In that case a second, more violent explosion occurred two days after the original explosion on August 7.

Rescue attempts were abandoned, the mine was sealed off and the bodies of 11 men were never recovered.

Whatever happens to the men at Pike River, that situation should never be repeated, says Mr Brady.

"That's the number one thing. People need closure. Whatever happens, they need their men back."