Utah Miners' Families Grapple with End of Search
Family members of the six miners trapped in mine in Utah are struggling to accept that they will never see the bodies of their love ones, who will remain permanently entombed in the coal mine after officials ordered an end to the search effort.
by Jennifer Riley, Christian Today US Correspondent
Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 11:41 (BST)
Family members of the six miners trapped in mine in Utah are struggling to accept that they will never see the bodies of their love ones, who will remain permanently entombed in the coal mine after officials ordered an end to the search effort.
“It’s a hard thing. Some are coping with it better than others,” said Colin King, a spokesman and lawyer for the miners’ families, according to The Associated Press. “They’re still dealing with the fact they have to accept now that these miners are not going to be recovered any time soon – that they’ve died, in all likelihood.”
A federal official said Saturday there is “no remaining hope” after nearly a month of rescue efforts discovered no signs of life, according to CNN. On Friday, rescue efforts at the Crandall Canyon Mine were suspended indefinitely.
“It’s pretty hard to come to that closure when you don’t see the body and don’t have the certainty of what really happened,” commented Dale Lund, a professor at the University of Utah who is an expert on bereavement, according to AP. “In this particular case, you probably have more uncertainty. Even if you believed the person is deceased at this point, it’s unclear about how the death experience occurred.”
Six miners became trapped in Crandall Canyon mine, just outside Huntington, Utah, after a “mountain bump” – or the shifting grounds which cause chunks of rocks to fall from the wall – occurred Aug. 6. Two more mountain bumps took place since the initial cave-in – the first causing a delay in rescue efforts and the second resulting in three deaths and six injuries during an underground rescue operation on Aug. 16.
In total, seven boreholes were drilled into the mountain to find more information on the men but instead discovered no signs of life. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated robotic camera became stuck in mud Friday leading officials to say they have run out of options.
“Sadly, there is no remaining hope of finding these miners alive,” Mine Safety and Health Administration chief Richard Stickler said in a statement Saturday, according to AP.
President Bush responded to the conclusion of the search effort by saying, “Last night, a difficult decision was made to end the search.
“Laura and I are deeply saddened by this tragedy and continue to pray for the families of these men.”
A nondenominational community memorial service for the six men is scheduled for Sept. 9 at a football field at a junior high school.
Meanwhile, the families are said to still be coping with the decision to end the search and plans for a memorial service and funerals will not be discussed with them until another week at the earliest.
“These families, and the whole community, have endured so much throughout this devastating tragedy” said Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, according to AP.
“Each family must determine their own way of gaining closure,” he said.
The miners are: Luis Hernandez, Manuel Sanchez, Kerry Allred, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Don Erickson.
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Wednesday, October 3, 2007, 17:58 (BST)
I pray that the families of these men find peace. I'm so sorry for all they have lost.
Juana Vasquez, woodstock Ga
Added: Tuesday, September 11, 2007, 19:18 (BST)
I have been following this story from the beginning.I think it is very sad for six men to remain underground and their families not no the exact place.I dont think that Mr. Murray worked hard enough,and I understand that he is a older guy and he didnt need all of the stress, but he should of gotten others advice, if he didnt before he ended the search.I feel so sorry for those men because I believe they worked so hard for theirselves and their families.I understsnd that three others died, and my heart goes out to their families,but I still think Mr .Murray can do better.Even though the miners might be dead ,whos is to say,they still need to find those bodies.Last but not least, I think the whole mining business need to shut down.
C.Burton, Hope,Lafayette
Added: Thursday, September 6, 2007, 11:34 (BST)
I just prayed to god all this time for the miners to be found. Now I guess is the last answer of the humans to said they are dead, well let's hope it is like that and that they didn't suffer,let's all pray to God and ask him to have all them 6 in glory......
Yumi fernandez, Los ANgeles, California
Added: Thursday, September 6, 2007, 10:45 (BST)
My heart has been with the minors and the families from the beginning. I think it is awful.It would have cost Murray a few more dollars, but I think life is more important than money. I was wondering why those minors did not have the tracking beacons? I have heard that if they would have had them they would have been found. I don't know how much air they had but at least the bodies could have been recovered. I am a truck driver, my husband and I had to drive by there a couple of weeks ago, I started to cry.
Christy, Palestine, Texas
Added: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 18:21 (BST)
Well, my comments I think that is terrible that murray gave up all hope on finding the six trapped miners thats a shame. I dont think that Murray had any idea where these miners were located i think that he was just trying to keep families hopefull which is wrong! So just wanted to say sorry to the miners relatives and friends god bless you all
John Thomashefsky, National park N.J.
Added: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 6:13 (BST)
This is the kind of thing that happens when right-wing anti worker republicans are elected. They gut safety rules so greedy tyrants like Bob Murray can get rich easier. Who cares about the workers? All Bush and his cronies care about are the rich. The members of organized labor care about the workers of the world and I am proud to be in the fight for safer workplaces, higher wages, decent benefits and dignity for all Americans. Christ told us of the "deceitfulness of riches" and here in Utah is a prime example in this tragedy. For the love of money, men were forced to work in an unsafe mine and are now dead. Bush is just as guilty as Bob Murray because it's his job to protect all American citizens. How do people believe he is a man of faith? The Bible plainly tells us that by a person's fruit that they bare we will know what kind of person they are. Bush and all his cronies have produced bitter and evil fruit for many years and I can't wait until he's out of office.
Marvin Stafford, Muncie, IN 47302
Added: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 2:28 (BST)
I feel bad for the miner's families but I agree with not getting any one else hurt or killed. I think Mr.Murray done all he could possibly do in searching for them.
M.NEWSOM, barnesvilleoh usa
