Fatal Accident No 103

Nottingham Evening Post Monday 29-01-1956

Trapped by Locomotive - Inquest Story of Gedling Pit Tragedy

The mystery of how a young electrician employed at Gedling Colliery; who had been married only a few weeks, came to be fatally trapped between an electric locomotive and a door frame was not cleared up at the inquest, held at the Carlton Police Station today by the Nottingham District Coroner Mr C A Mack. The enquiry concerned the death of Alan Cant, aged 23, of 29, Gedling Road, Nottingham, an electro-mechanic which occurred in the space of ten minutes, during which time he was left alone by three colleagues on Wednesday afternoon. With the assistance of two other electro-mechanics named Sully, and Watson, Cant, between 3-10 and 3-30pm had adjusted the brakes of a battery driven locomotive which was driven to the battery charging station by its drive Kalistak. After the engine had been tested and pronounced satisfactory, Sully, Watson, and Kalistak left the battery station and went to the pit bottom about 200 yards away. Ten minutes later Sully and Watson returned and found Cant trapped between the side of the locomotive and the door frame. He was in a standing position and trapped by the neck. To release him Sully got into the locomotive and saw the controls were in the forward position with the wheel brake partially on. On evidence given by Kalistak and Sully, the only theory put forward to account for the accident was that Cant must have pushed the loco drive forward. Dr. K S Dickenson who made a post mortem examination on Friday said death was due to a broken neck. A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded.

Fatal Accident No 104

Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 22-01-1957

One in a Million Chance Kills Nottingham Miner, Only Manual Worker on Coal face

A million to one chance killed a Gedling Colliery miner, Roman Gierczak, as he was doing the only manual job on an otherwise completely mechanised face on January 18 said the Nottingham District Coroner at an inquest at Carlton today. The Coroner, Mr C A Mack said that every safety precaution had been taken and the only manual job was removing a 7 inch by 20 inch lip of coal left by the cutting machine. Gierczak was doing this when a piece of coal fell, bounced off a conveyor rope and by one chance in a million hit him, and pinned him against a prop supporting the roof. Dr J A Chisholm said Gierczak who lived at Winchester Terrace, Winchester Street, Sherwood, died from shock and multiple abdominal injuries. Before hearing evidence the Coroner said that colliery accidents were always tragic, a price we had to pay for coal. He said an accident at Gedling was always more personal for him. Mr D S Baines a ripper packer of 39, Gamble Street, Nottingham, agreed with the Coroner that the face was extremely well timbered, the safety precautions were more than necessary. Mr Gierczak was recognised as by other miners as extremely well skilled said Mr Baines. The deputy in charge of the district Joseph Smith, of 2, Derby Terrace, Lotus Street, Nottingham, said he could suggest nothing that would prevent a similar accident occurring again. The roof was double timbered and the accident had been unavoidable. The Coroner told the jury that he was going to trespass on their rights and suggest the only verdict that they could bring was one of accidental death. Without retiring the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Fatal Accident No 105

Nottingham Evening post Friday 12-04-1957

How Gedling Miner was Killed Moment of Forgetfulness

Because he left his coal cutter in high gear a coal miner lost his life it was stated at an inquest today. The inquest was on William Ernest Saywell, 22, of 42, Carlton Road, Carlton, he was working on coal cutting operations in the low Hazel seam at Gedling Colliery, when he left his machine in high gear and switched off. When he stated it again the machine jerked forward and caught him, and dragged him along the floor. The power was immediately turned off but he was killed instantaneously. Mr C A Mack the Nottingham District Coroner, said it appeared that Saywell forgot that he had not left the gear in neutral which was a pit rule, and because of this lapse of memory he died. People must realise that these petty rules or not petty at all and maybe this tragedy will help them to realise this. “If one life is saved by this tragedy then something worthwhile will have been achieved. Dr J A Chisholm said that Saywell died of shock following a fracture of the skull and multiple injuries consistent with the accident. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

NB. Mr Saywell was the son of accident victim No 88 Ernest William Saywell.

Fatal Accident No 106

Nottingham Evening Post Friday 08-11-1957

Gedling Pit Workers Death Inquest Story of Roof Collapse

A 36 year old coal ripper took an extra precaution after shots had been fired in a Gedling Colliery seam and it cost him his life. The ripper Joseph Raymond Vaughn, of 62, Ena Avenue, Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, went to set a prop under a girder after two shots to clear away the soft surface in the Low Hazel seam of Gedling Colliery had been fired. But as he was setting the prop beneath the girder it reeled outwards and the roof collapsed onto him, a Carlton inquest was told today. Vaughn was setting the prop for extra safety the Nottingham District Coroner {Mr C A Mack} told them. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”. The Coroner said Vaughn had died from a crushed chest and contusions of the heart and lungs. Nickord Markowski, of 27, Dunlop Avenue, Lenton said that on Wednesday morning October 23, he and Vaughn had been detailed to prepare two shots for firing before the work of ripping could begin. They had done this and the shots had been fired, everything was perfectly in order after the firing he said. He then went to assist Vaughn in setting a prop under the girder as a safety measure.” Suddenly the prop reeled out and the roof fell” said Markowski. The fall trapped Vaughn but Markowski managed to jump aside. Albert Henry Akers of 89, Plains Road, Mapperley, a deputy at Gedling Colliery said after firing had taken place everything was still in perfect order, “ every precaution had taken place” he said. He had left Vaughn who was setting the prop, and continued down one of the roads. He had gone about seventy yards when he heard a call for help, he went back and saw Vaughn buried, he was released and taken away on a stretcher. Asked by the Coroner if it were possible that shots had loosened the supports, the witness said it was possible, but it was one of those cases where nothing could be done to prevent it happening. Closing the inquiry Mr Mack said this was one of those cases where a person lost his life, not by avoiding some regulations but by doing something under no directions from anybody to provide added safety.

Fatal Accident No 107

Nottingham Journal Saturday 08-03-1958

Miner Died Trough Whim of Fate

A cruel whim of fate in that two safety devices did not operate was referred to by Mr A C G Rothera the Nottingham City Coroner at an inquest yesterday. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” on Eric Percival Preston, of Chapel Lane, Epperstone, who was fatally injured when seven mine cars ran away down an underground gradient at Gedling Colliery, on February 20. Samuel Chambers, a haulage hand had said that on the way up the gradient he had not put back into the safety position a derrick which was intended to act as a safety gate to stop mines cars, if they began to run back. He also said that a drag which should have been attached to the rear wagon to act as a brake in case of tubs rolling back was found to have become disconnected. Chambers said that when he uncoupled the wagons from the diesel loco they began to run back, he tried to wedge the wheels with some wood, but four of the mine cars were loaded and they gained momentum. After striking Preston who was working down the line, they knocked out some supports and caused a fall of stone. Thomas Sales the manager of the Colliery was questioned by the Coroner about the installation of an audible warning system which could be heard when trucks ran away. Mr Sales told him the NCB was working on the problem. The Coroner told the jury “This unfortunate accident has been very largely redeemed by the honest way in which the evidence was given by Mr Chambers”. “It is no easy matter to be frank when you realise that the human error of which you have been guilty has resulted in the death of a colleague”. “It was a cruel whim of fate that neither the derrick had been closed nor the drag remained in its correct position, if either of them had been right this accident would never have happened.

Fatal Accident No 108

South Nott’s Echo Friday 21-03-1958

Carlton Miner Killed

How a big piece of stone suddenly fell from the roof at Gedling Colliery last Friday, was described by witnesses at an inquest on Kenneth David Cooksey, aged 28, of 10, Manor Road, Carlton, held at the Council Chambers, Burton Road. Mr. R. Hartshorn, of 82, Hilton Road, Mapperley, Cooksey’s father in law, said he last saw Cooksey in good health on Tuesday. He identified the body last Saturday. Dr. J. A. Chisholm, said the cause of death was a depressed fracture of the skull and depression of the brain, consistent with the results of a fall of roof. At the time of the occurrence, Mr. H. Ridley, of 24, Mount Pleasant, Carlton, was standing near Cooksey, Mr. Ridley said he only about a yard away, and Cooksey was loading coal onto a stage loader, when, without warning, a big stone about feet three thick, two feet deep, and three feet wide suddenly crashed from the roof and fell on Cooksey, he was knocked right out. The roof fall was described by Mr Ridley as a “slip” “You can’t see these slips”. He said there were sufficient supports; the props were placed a yard apart. Working with Cooksey was Mr. S. Nieszorek, of 96, Robinson Road, Mapperley, who said he lifted the stone away, he did not hear anything before it fell, there was plenty of support. Questioned by Mr. C.W.Percival, Mines inspector, he said there were shots fired about 10pm that day and the accident took place about 1-30 pm. Mr J.K. Chamberlain 0f 24, South Street, Daybrook, a deputy at the at the colliery, said the supports were satisfactory. He had examined the place half an hour before the accident and the roof conditions were good. Summing up the Deputy Coroner (Mr. A.R. Davies) said it was a tragic case; Cooksey left a wife and an eight month old daughter. “It appears from the evidence that everything was done that should have been done to make the roof safe, and that the fall of roof could not have been foreseen, it looks as if he met his death immediately”. The colliery manager (Mr. T.J.R. Sales) said they had lost a valuable workman and they expressed sympathy to those bereaved. This was endorsed by the others present. Representatives present included Mr. L.E. Street (legal advisor N.C.B) Mr. W.E. Jackson safety engineer, Mr. E.S. Brady (NUM) Mr J. England (Colliery deputies association) and Mr. W. Draper (Branch secretary)

Fatal Accident No 109

Guardian Journal Wednesday 30-04-1958

Chalk Mark led to a Pit Fatality

A miner died because of a chalk mark, a Nottingham inquest was told yesterday the man, 63 year old James Swann a drop chair attendant at Gedling colliery, moved from his position to rub the mark from the side of a tub, and was crushed against the side of an upright. His son in law, Alan Reedy of Stretton Road Leicester said Swann had told him this before he died in the hospital. He had wanted to rub off the mark because it indicated that the tub was carrying dirt when in fact it was coal. Dennis Hardy of Sommersby Road Mapperley, an onsetter, told the coroner (Mr A C Rothera) that he heard his name called and found Swann leaning against the drop chair structure. He said I have been trapped. A tub had stopped near the cage. Swann’s job was to operate a lever to release tubs to run don a gradient on to the cage. The coroner said possibly while Swann was rubbing out the mark, the next tub had come along and trapped him against the upright. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death on Swann who lived in Vernon Avenue Nottingham.

Fatal Accident No 110

South Nott’s Echo Friday 11-07-1958

Killed In Mining Accident - Carlton Miner Died When trapped Between Roof Supports

A young Carlton miner died at the Nottingham General Hospital, on Wednesday June 18th soon after an accident at the Gedling Colliery. His head was crushed between two roof supports which had been knocked together by the blades of a coal cutter. This was stated at the inquest at Nottingham, last Friday, on Frank Edwin Smith, aged 19, of 14, Calverton Avenue, Carlton. Mr. A.C.G. Rothera, the Nottingham Coroner said he had opened the inquest on Saturday June 21, when medical evidence was given that death was due to injuries consistent with the head being crushed in a pit accident. William John Turski, of 5, Freda Avenue, Gedling, a deputy, said that Smith was a timberer and was working on the coal face where a coal cutter was in operation. Working conditions at that point prior to the accident appeared to be perfectly safe. James Harold Chamberlain said that he stopped the machine at about 9-50am to enable those who placed the roof supports to keep up with him. When they had done so, he started to move forward again. Smith was kneeling nearby with his head to the roof. When he switched on the machine the turret revolved and the blade caught a roof support and moved it towards the next one. Smith’s head was trapped between the two supports. He was quickly released and first aid was given. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Fatal Accident No 111

South Nott’s Echo Friday 13-02-1959

Arnold Miner Killed at Gedling Colliery, Trainee witnesses Tragedy on First day at Pit

On His first day in Gedling Colliery a 17 year old mining trainee saw his supervisor killed by a fall of coal as he was working near him in the Low Hazel seam, it was a revealed at an inquest at Carlton on Wednesday. The youth found the coal too heavy to move from its position on the man’s head and shouted for help. Workmates immediately came to the rescue, but found that the trainee supervisor, Mr Robert Severn, 48, of 39, Alderton Road, Arnold, was dead. His death it was stated was due to cerebral compression following a fracture at the base of the skull. Mr Severn was described by the colliery manager Mr T J R Sales “as a skilled and very experienced miner” whose loss was deeply felt at the colliery. Addressing the jury the Nottingham District Coroner Mr C A Mack said that from the evidence every precaution had been taken, there was no evidence of negligence on anyone’s part. The inquest had been opened originally on December 4 but adjourned because it was thought that might be a question of a breach of various regulations, from the information of responsible parties no such breach had taken place and that is why he was opening and concluding the inquest. The Coroner explained that Severn was working at about 4pm on December 1 in the Low Hazel seam at Gedling Colliery with 17 year old mining trainee Victor Hutchinson, of 76, Alfred Street South, Nottingham. A horizontal cut five feet in depth had been made in the coal face by a machine and wooden wedges had been inserted in the undercut to keep the coal up. Severn was using a pick to clear away loose coal left by the machine, when a lump of coal measuring four feet by two feet by one foot rolled off the face and struck him on the head. Medical attention was given and Mr Severn was taken out of the pit but he died from his injuries. Victor Hutchinson told the Coroner and jury that it was his first day in the pit and he was in number 13 stint with Mr Severn, watching as he cleaned up under the coal seam where the cutting had taken place. Mr Severn instructed him to shovel some coal away at the side of him and that he had been going on for some time. Mr Severn then put some steel props against the coal face and was working between props at the face. He was lying on his left shoulder working with his pick when a large piece of coal dropped off the face onto his head. Hutchinson said he called for help as he could not shift the coal himself and Severn was taken out of the pit. Evidence that he was working about seven yards away from Severn in number 12 stint, when he heard Hutchinson shout “there’s some coal on a man “was given by collier Mr James Bernard Maguire, of Fox Avenue, Clifton Estate, he said he found Severn on his left side with his head and neck covered by a big piece of coal that had fallen. He tried unsuccessfully to release Severn and had to get more help to get the coal off him. He did not notice if any props or sprags had been knocked out by the coal. Roof conditions seemed fairly good, there was nothing to cause fear for safety. The support of the undercut coal had been properly carried out as far as he could see. Deputy, Stanley Goadby, of 43, Church Drive, Arnold, said that he went to the scene and found Severn on his left side with two men attending to him; he noticed that there were three sprags up and six bar ends had been propped up in the interests of safety. In an earlier inspection of the roof he had noticed that between number 10-19 stints it was rather heavy, but it was nothing dangerous providing that proper precautions were taken, and they had been taken that day. The face was fair and safe for anyone to go in, actually the degree of care taken was greater because trainees were under instruction, and there were 26 supervisors with 15 trainees. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

NB. It was Mr Hutchinson’s first day on the coal face not in the pit.

Fatal Accident No 112

South Nott’s Echo Friday 29-07-1960

Arnold Colliery Worker Killed at Gedling - Open Verdict Recorded by Inquest Jury