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Four years too long to retreive Pike River bodies - mayor

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Wed, 18 Jan 2012 6:08a.m.

Pike River mine

Pike River mine

Claims that it may take up to four years to retrieve the bodies of the 29 Pike River miners have been dismissed by Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn.

He says getting into the mine is proving difficult, but hopes to have the bodies recovered within 18 months.

Four years is simply not an option.

"I don't know how much time that, and neither does anyone… but three-to-four years, or two-to-four years is unacceptable to us Coasters."

Mr Kokshoorn is due to meet Prime Minister John Key and the receivers within the next few weeks to discuss the situation.

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Comments

22 Jan 2012 08:02a.m.

flossie wrote:

They did not all die doing what they loved, some of them hated it - it was just a job to earn some money and get out. They were not all 'miners'. Some bodies are still 'intact' - there is no oxygen in the mine. Would you like your loved one to be in a mine that may be worked again? The mine is not for sale so that it can sit idle. Money will be spent getting it back to work. It is also important to find out what actually happened in there, and until they get in - no-one will ever know for sure. Oh, and they were not all 'Coasters'.

18 Jan 2012 09:16a.m.

Puzzled wrote:

Forgive my ignorance but what will be left of the bodies in four years? Even after two years I would think that there would be nothing left to retrieve? Perhaps for all concerned it might be better to leave the men in peace - after all they died doing what they loved - being underground and mining... their spirit and souls are long released only their mortal remains lie in the earth. What difference is buried in the earth of the mountain or in a funeral plot? I understand that families may want to have a burial of remains, although realistically most would prefer cremation, but that must be countered with the risk and expense of going back into that ill-fated mine. It’s too late.