Rescue teams recover miners’ bodies
Two bodies of miners were recovered by Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) from the declining mine shaft in Primrose on Thursday, May 18.
The DEMS rescue team worked in collaboration with other emergency services, including the police’s K-9 unit, Mine Rescue Services and Urban Search and Rescue SA.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said the rescue team responded immediately after receiving a call around 3.15pm.
“On arrival at the new mining plant near the intersection of Main Reef Road and Stanley Roads, opposite Makausi informal settlement, information received stated that two male mine employees went down the shaft and they couldn`t come out as planned,” said Ntladi.
He said two members of the rescue team descended the inclining shaft.
“The first body the rescuers arrived at was at a depth of about 100 metres, while the second one was 11 metres further down.
“All the rescue teams, the medics from various services, mining officials and the police officials, all worked collectively to recover the bodies on the cold night,” said Ntladi.
He said both bodies were successfully recovered.
“The search was called off around 12.15am when the last body was recovered from the shaft and was then handed over to the police for further investigations,” Ntladi said.
