Worker fighting for life as questions begin over deadly Ballarat mine collapse
A 21-year-old mine worker is still fighting for his life in hospital as questions are raised over the collapse of a Victorian gold mine that killed another worker.
Kurt Hourigan, 37, was trapped under rubble after the collapse earlier this week, 500 metres underground and three kilometres from the mine entrance.
He died before he could be rescued.
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A man who died after a gold mine collapsed near Ballarat in Victoria yesterday has been identified as beloved father Kurt Hourigan. Supplied
The other miner unable to escape the collapse suffered injuries to his lower body and remains in a critical condition at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
A further 29 workers in the mine managed to flee to safety.
The Australian Workers Union has now claimed the tragedy was avoidable, and they said they will push for industrial manslaughter charges to be laid.
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Fingers are being pointed over the cause of the collapse. The Age/JOE ARMAO
The union alleged that mine operators had been warned about a number of safety concerns, which the operators deny.
A WorkSafe investigation into the tragedy is underway, and the site has been shut down.
Victorian branch secretary of the Australian Workers' Union Ronnie Hayden said the mine was using a controversial drilling technique called "air legging" when the tragedy occurred.
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"It should never have happened. They should never be using this drilling technique," Hayden said.
Victory Minerals said in a statement it was cooperating fully with the investigation, and had launched one of its own.
The company said it had recently increased "safety professional resources" underground.
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