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Working for Pike River was a "dream come true" for Stuart Mudge.
The 31-year-old was "fit, very strong and very healthy" and working in the mine gave him both mateship and "an outlet for his energy", said Stuart's father Stephen Rose.
Mr Rose said mining was not about the money for his tough and resourceful son, who had a five-year-old daughter.
He "absolutely loved" the industry - both the physical hard work and the "common bond" he found with other miners.
"When the explosion happened Stuart was probably driving a very valuable piece of machinery. Working with that machinery and those guys is the pinnacle of his working career," Mr Rose said.
Born in Whangarei, Stuart moved with his family to the West Coast around five years ago, where they were welcomed into the local community.
"Stu and ourselves arrived and the people just welcomed us, we never once were put to task for not being born here."
Mr Rose said his son enjoyed life on the Coast, and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
"[Stu] enjoyed being a West Coaster," Mr Rose said.
"To be a West Coaster, it's in your heart," he said.
"Stu's a quintessential West Coaster."
