Victorian gold miner Kurt Hourigan dies in Ballarat rockfall, union accuses operator of unsafe practices
ABC Ballarat
March 14 2024
In short: One miner is dead and another is critically injured after a rockfall at Ballarat in Victoria's west.
The Australian Workers' Union has criticised the company's mining practices, claiming the man's death was avoidable.
What's next? WorkSafe Victoria has taken control of the site as it investigates the death.
Devastated family and friends are paying tribute to the miner killed in a rockfall at Ballarat Gold Mine, west of Melbourne.
Kurt Hourigan, 37, from Bruthen, in the state's east, was killed. Another miner was critically injured.
The father from Bruthen in the state’s east was one of 30 people working 500 metres underground in the mine at Mount Clear when they were caught in a rock collapse on Wednesday afternoon.
Friends and family members have been paying tribute to Mr Hourigan.
On Facebook his brother Reece Hourigan paid tribute.
"Mad dog, I still can't believe you are gone," he wrote.
"I have always looked up to you.
"Thank you for all the good and bad memories we have shared together. I love you so much brother."
Relative Reece Hourigan said “I still can’t believe you are gone. I have always looked up to you.”
His friend Scott Ellis spoke of Mr Hourigan's mateship.
"The best mate anyone could ask for, you could never be replaced and I'll miss you every day."
“[Kurt was] the best mate anyone could ask for, you could never be replaced and I’ll miss you every day,” shared Steve Hollis.
Police say 30 workers were 500 metres underground and 3 kilometres from the mine entry at Mount Clear when they were caught in the rock collapse around 4:50pm on Wednesday.
While 28 of the workers were able to make their way to a refuge safety pod, two of their colleagues became trapped.
One of them, a 21-year-old Ballarat man, was extracted by a specialist mine rescue crew around 8:30pm on Wednesday.
He was flown to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with life-threatening injuries to his lower body.
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