A miner who died in an underground collapse at a Ballarat gold mine where safety concerns were raised has been identified.
Father-of-two Kurt Hourigan, 37, was pinned 500m underground following a ceiling collapse at the Ballarat Gold Mine on Wednesday afternoon.
His body was recovered at about 6am on Thursday.
A second miner, 21 was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Wednesday night suffering from life-threatening lower body injuries. He remains in a critical condition.
Another 29 trapped miners were able to make their way to an underground safety pod until they were rescued.
Mr Hourigan’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief shared by loved ones, friends and colleagues.
He has been remembered as devoted father-of-two and keen handyman.
The miner killed in the Ballarat Gold Mine collapse named as Kurt Hourigan (pictured)
A ‘complex’ rescue mission to retrieve 31 miners who became trapped about 500m underground was launched at about 4.50pm on Wednesday (pictured, the mine)
READ MORE: Miner dies after he was pinned underground at Ballarat Gold Mine
n Workers Union Victoria state secretary Ronnie Hayden said members of the n Workers Union were ‘angry’ in lieu of the miner’s death
‘Mad dog, I still can’t believe you are gone. I have always looked up to you,’ his brother Reece posted on Thursday.
‘Thank you for all the good and bad memories we have shared together. I love you so much brother.’
Another loved one Stephanie Coleiro added: ‘Our brother, our best mate, our son Kurt … we are so broken here without you.
‘You were the best mate I could ask for. All the good and dumb advice. The cuddles when I’m balling my eyes out or just for sitting with me and having a stubby on the couch.
‘Our kids loved you so much, as you loved them. Love you and miss you so much mate.’
A close friend wrote: ‘The best mate anyone could ask for, you could never be replaced and I’ll miss you every day.’
Mr Hourigan’s social media is filled with photos of him cherishing time with his young children during the school holidays and DIY projects he’d been working on around the home.
Just a week ago, the proud dad shared photos of his kids enjoying a beach getaway at Lake Tyers in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Miner Kurt Hourigan was a proud dead who loved spending time with his young kids
Father of-two Kurt Hourigan has been remembered as best mate anyone could ask for
One mine died while another is in a critical condition following the mine collapse
n Workers Union Victoria state secretary Ronnie Hayden said it was devastating that Mr Hourigan had lost his life on the job after colleagues had previously flagged concerns about the mine.
‘It seems to have fallen on deaf ears,’ Mr Hayden said.
The two workers were undertaking a manual type of mining called air legging which involved drilling into a rock to create a tunnel.
‘They were working on unsupported ground, trapping both miners and killing one,’ he said.
Mr Hayden said air legging was not appropriate for the setting.
‘This form of air legging should not be used to do this type of work,’ he said.
‘This was a quick, cheap and easy way to chase gold.’
Premier Jacinta Allan described the collapse as a terrible accident.
‘If there is advice that comes where laws can be strengthened, we stand ready to do that work and support workers across every industry who deserve the right to come home from work every single day safely to their family and loved ones,’ she said.
n Workers Union Victorian branch secretary Ronnie Hayden has called for Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws to ‘take effect’ in lieu of the 37-year-old man’s death
The mine was closed as Worksafe Victoria representatives arrived on Thursday to investigate the deadly disaster
Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King said it was too soon to have a solid idea of what caused the incident.
Mining operations have ceased as police work with the workplace regulator to investigate the incident and prepare a report for the coroner, Acting Inspector Lisa MacDougall said.
The mine’s owner Victory Minerals said its emergency response team was working closely with Victoria Police and it was focused on supporting impacted workers.
‘Our absolute priority is supporting the wellbeing of our team members and their families and loved ones as we all come to terms with this tragic news,’ it said.
The company took operational control of the Ballarat gold mine in December 2023.
Minerals Council of chief executive Tania Constable said safety was the most important issue for the industry.
‘This tragic event is a reminder of the need to always prioritise safety above all else,’ she said.
Union officials say that its members had previously flagged concerns about the mine
The mine’s website states it has an extensive network of tunnels and operates deep beneath buildings, streets and homes.
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said the miner’s death was devastating news.
‘We are a very resilient community,’ he said.
‘There will be great community concern and support by the local community to those that are involved.’
In 2007, 27 miners were trapped underground at the mine for several hours before being winched to safety.
A police car is seen leaving mine in Ballarat, Victoria after a worker’s body was recovered