Police dismiss mine phone call

A screenshot of <I>The Australian</I>.

Police and a company official have dismissed claims of a cellphone call from one of the 29 men trapped in the Pike River coal mine.

Family have told The Australian of a "brief, loving" cellphone message out of the mine from 59-year-old Allan Dixon.

His brother Gordon Dixon and sister-in-law Leona Dixon say the message was recorded on his partner Robyn's phone in the minutes after an explosion ripped through the mine's tunnels.

"It was something very brief, like 'I love you'," Ms Dixon said to The Australian.

The family gave Robyn's mobile telephone to police to analyse as soon as they heard of the message.

West Coast superintendant Gary Knowles says that analysis has now been done.

Any claim that Mr Dixon made a call from inside the mine is "factually incorrect", he says.

Pike River Coal chairman John Dow says there is no cellphone coverage inside the mine or in the area around it.

Cellphones are considered "contraband" and carrying them into work is a dismissable offence, he says.

"It's an absolute no-no to carry a cellphone into a mine. They are spark starters. They have a radio inside them. You're not even allowed watches.

"I don't believe it. It makes no sense."

There have been no calls from the 29 miners who remain trapped inside the Pike River mine, despite a working phone in operation, says Mr Dow.

Leona Dixon said there were some unknowns about the call, but they had no doubt in Robyn's mind it was real.

"She's distraught, and when she heard it, she was sure it was Allan trying to tell her something important," she said.

- NZ HERALD STAFF