Gleision colliery tragedy: survivor buries father

Daniel Powell, 26, joins more than 500 mourners to pay respects to father, David, last of four miners killed in Welsh pit to be buried A son who survived the Gleision mining tragedy paid his last respects on Friday to his father who died in the accident. Daniel Powell joined more than 500 mourners at the funeral of his father, David, 50, who was one of four miners killed in the Welsh pit. Powell Sr – known as Dai Bull – was the pit maintenance manager and was trapped underground when a torrent of water flooded the tunnels. His 26-year-old son was just metres from him but managed to make a desperate escape to safety. Powell Sr was found dead alongside fellow workers Charles Breslin, 62, Phillip Hill, 45, and Garry Jenkins, 39. His family and friends turned out at St David’s church in his home village of Ystalyfera, near Swansea, to pay tribute to him. His coffin was taken into church with his three sons Daniel, Matthew, 29, and Korie, 12, as pallbearers. His white miner’s helmet was laid on top of the coffin. Neath MP Peter Hain told the congregation: “He was a much loved man and proud miner. He was so proud in fact that his miners helmet and lamp stands on top of his coffin.” Floral tributes in the hearse read “Dad” and “Bampa” – a Welsh nickname for grandad. Mourners were in tears as the hymns Abide with Me, The Old Rugged Cross and Calon Lân were sung. Daniel Powell had worked at the Gleision colliery near Pontardawe in the Swansea valley for a year alongside his father – and was among the three miners to escape. He is one of the last sons in the once-mighty south Wales coalfield to follow the tradition of joining his father underground. Powell helped give rescuers vital information about where the men may be holed up in the flooded mine and then endured an agonising wait for news of his father. After the body was found, the family paid tribute to “proud” miner, a father-of-four who had worked underground most of his life. They said: “He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son and true friend. “Dai was a proud collier, our life and soul. He brought joy and fun to everyone he met.” Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched an investigation into the tragedy. David Powell’s is the last funeral of the four to have taken place. Wales Mining Coal Energy industry Steven Morris guardian.co.uk

Posted by on October 7, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.