By 3 News online staff
The former general manager of the Pike River coal mine has admitted he sent emails looking for a new job, less than 20 minutes after the mine exploded.
Doug White is adamant that at the time, he did not know there had been an explosion underground.
"At the time I sent those emails, I had absolutely no idea at all there was a major incident at the mine," Mr White said.
The first explosion in the mine was estimated to be at 3.45pm and the
hearing was told Mr White was alerted there was a problem at 3.50pm.
But he told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the tragedy he could smell something similar to gunpowder and knew the mine had lost electricity, about 10 minutes before he sent the emails.
Mr White says he made the decision to look for other work after chief executive Peter Whittall blamed him for the company’s share price dropping by 7 cents.
Bernie Monk, spokesman for the men's families, said they were upset by the revelations.
He called Mr White's actions "unforgivable".
"If
you go out and smell gunpowder and [with] the knowledge of things were
down, well, I just can't accept that, so it's something that he must
live with," Mr Monk said.
While Mr White was giving evidence, a
family member of one of the men yelled out, "this was while my boy was
dying, Jesus Christ" before running from the court in tears.
After
Mr White and others visited the mine entrance a 111 call was made at
4.35pm once it became apparent something had gone seriously wrong.
Mr White is also working with the police inquiry into the disaster.
The inquiry resumes at 9am.
3 News