Latest news with #Hy-TechDrilling
The Market Online
2 days ago
- Business
- The Market Online
All three workers safely rescued after incident at B.C.'s Red Chris Mine
Imperial Metals (TSX:III) confirmed that three workers who were trapped underground following a fall of ground incident at the Red Chris Mine have been safely rescued Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke, and Jesse Chubaty — all employees of Hy-Tech Drilling — were brought to the surface after being isolated underground for nearly two days The rescue began after a ground fall incident occurred where the three employees were working more than 500 metres beyond the affected zone Imperial Metals stock (TSX:III) opened trading at C$4.34 An update to a story we brought you on Friday, Imperial Metals (TSX:III) confirmed that three workers who were trapped underground following a fall of ground incident at the Red Chris Mine have been safely rescued. The mine, located in northwest British Columbia and 30 per cent owned by Imperial Metals, is operated by Newmont Corp. (NYSE:NEM). This content has been prepared as part of a partnership with Imperial Metals Corp. and is intended for informational purposes only. Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke, and Jesse Chubaty — all employees of Hy-Tech Drilling — were brought to the surface after being isolated underground for nearly two days. The trio had taken shelter in a designated refuge chamber following the incident. In a statement expressing gratitude for the safe outcome, the teams gave their relief in sharing that all three individuals are safe, and in good health and spirits. They had consistent access to food, water, and ventilation whilst they remained in place in a refuge chamber underground over the last two days. They are now being supported by medical and wellness teams. Their families have been notified. A coordinated rescue effort The rescue operation began immediately after the incident occurred late Thursday evening, where at the time of the initial ground fall, the three employees were working more than 500 metres beyond the affected zone. According to Newmont, at approximately 8:30 p.m. PST on July 24, a specialized line-of-sight scoop successfully cleared the debris blocking the access tunnel. Once the area was stabilized, the Emergency Response Team advanced using equipment outfitted with an engineered falling object protective system. Upon reaching the refuge chamber, the team found the three workers in stable condition. They were then escorted to the surface using the same protected equipment. The Red Chris Mine is a significant copper-gold operation in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. The incident has prompted a review of safety protocols, though no further details have been released at this time. Imperial Metals Corp. owns the Mount Polley mine, the Huckleberry mine, and Huckleberry copper mines and the Red Chris copper / gold mine. Imperial Metals stock (TSX:III) opened trading at C$4.34 and has risen 133.52 per cent since the year began. Join the discussion: Find out what the Bullboards are saying about Imperial Metals and check out Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. Stockhouse does not provide investment advice or recommendations. All investment decisions should be made based on your own research and consultation with a registered investment professional. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein. For full disclaimer information, please click here .
Global News
4 days ago
- General
- Global News
‘Goosebumps' and euphoria after workers trapped in B.C. mine were freed
It was a 'euphoric' moment as three drilling company workers were brought to safety after spending more than 60 hours trapped underground in a mine in a remote area of northwestern British Columbia, their employer said Friday. The workers who had been sheltering in a steel refuge 284 metres below ground emerged after a complex, high-stakes rescue mission involving drones, a remote-controlled scoop machine and a special protected rescue vehicle. Hy-Tech Drilling's president Dwayne Ross thanked everyone involved in the rescue effort at the Red Chris mine, where the workers surfaced at around 10:40 p.m. Thursday. He told a news briefing that the men — Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty — would soon be back in Smithers, B.C., where Hy-Tech is based. Bernard Wessels, the global safety chief for the mine's operator, Newmont Corp., said there were 'goosebumps and happiness' when the contractors escaped the gold and copper mine, about 500 kilometres northwest of Terrace, B.C. Story continues below advertisement The men 'held hope and strength through their every moment,' he told the briefing. The men were to be reunited with their families on Friday, Wessels said. A statement from Newmont said the workers were in 'good physical and mental condition' when they were found. 'As a precaution, they were taken for medical evaluations and offered access to counselling,' it said, adding that reuniting the workers with their families was the immediate focus. Hy-Tech issued a statement Friday including a photo of the three men standing with Ross and a company director in front of the helicopter taking them home. 'Bringing our team safely back to surface was a moment of immense relief,' Ross said in the statement. The trio had been trapped by two 'falls of ground' that blocked an access tunnel. Wessels described the remote-controlled machine used in the operation as 'big, big pieces of equipment,' with the scoop clearing a path to allow the rescue vehicle to pass through a blockage about 20 metres long. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'With the area stabilized, the emergency response team advanced across the impacted zone using equipment with an engineered falling object protect system,' he said, referring to an enclosure on a vehicle used in dangerous locations. Story continues below advertisement 'Upon reaching the refuge chamber, the team found Kevin, Darien, and Jesse in stable condition. Together with the emergency response team, they returned to (the) surface using the same protective equipment.' He said the men walked on their own to the rescue vehicle and they were taken out one by one. Wessels said the response showed that 'safety protocols work,' adding the men did 'exactly what they were trained to do.' The first fall of ground had occurred at 7:47 a.m. Tuesday, prompting the men to retreat to the refuge equipped with air, food and water, before the second, bigger fall around 10:30 a.m. Wessels said the refuge was about 700 metres from where both falls occurred. He said the men were found in 'healthy spirits,' telling rescuers they had managed to catch up on their sleep. Newmont, based in Denver, Colo., said in a statement that the outcome was a 'result of tireless collaboration, technical expertise, and above all, safety and care.' 'We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the rescue teams and all those involved.' No prior fall-of-ground events had occurred in the tunnel where the men became trapped, the company said, adding it had been subjected to routine inspections. Story continues below advertisement 'This incident was highly localized and unexpected' the statement said. 'A full investigation will be conducted to determine the root cause and share learnings with the broader industry.' Wessels told Friday's briefing that the mine doesn't have a history of geotechnical instability and the fall-of-ground incidents occurred in a 'very localized area.' 'This one caught us by surprise and we need to go and understand that,' he said. The mine is subject to daily and monthly inspections, as well as 'second line of defence' inspections by external observers, Wessels said. 'We will do an extensive inspection and investigation into this incident, and ultimately we will share the results of this incident so that we can learn from that. But it's not a common thing, and it's not a common thing for this operation,' he said. Still, he said falls of ground are a risk across the mining industry. 'That's why we've got standards and protocols that we put in place.' B.C. Premier David Eby hailed the outcome and the 'heroic work of the rescue team.' 'The three drillers demonstrated remarkable courage over the 60-plus hours of being trapped underground,' he said. A statement from Mines Minister Jagrup Brar later Friday said it was a 'proud day' for the province. Story continues below advertisement 'We breathe a collective sigh of relief and express our profound thanks in celebration of the rescue and safe return of the three workers,' he said. 'As we move forward, we reflect on the impact of this incident and the lessons we can glean from it.' Brar said the ministry's chief inspector had begun an investigation into the incident, the results of which would be made public. The three workers had been identified on Thursday by Hy-Tech, saying Coumbs was from Ontario, Maduke was from B.C. and Chubaty was from Manitoba. It described Coumbs and Chubaty as drillers and Maduke as a driller's helper. A Facebook page belonging to Chubaty issued a post Friday saying it had been a 'wild week' and he thanked people for reaching out. 'Glad to be outta there!' the post read. 'To all my mining brothers stay safe down there and to everyone else as well!' Newmont said open-pit operations had resumed at the Red Chris. Those operations are separate from the underground project, it said. 'The underground area where the incident occurred remains secured. No work will resume there until a full investigation is completed and safety is reassessed.' Story continues below advertisement Michael Goehring, president of the Mining Association of B.C., issued a statement Friday thanking rescuers and commending the successful effort. 'Newmont's rescue operation is a testament to the commitment, skill, and readiness of mine rescue teams across British Columbia who, at a moment's notice, willingly place themselves in harm's way to keep others safe,' he said. The effort involved mine rescue professionals from both Red Chris and the Brucejack mine in the same region, he noted. — With files from Ashley Joannou in Vancouver
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipegger trapped in B.C. mine for more than 60 hours relieved after complicated rescue
A Winnipeg man who was trapped underground in a northern B.C. mine for more than 60 hours expressed relief and gratitude after his rescue late Thursday. And Jesse Chubaty's Manitoba relatives are eager to reunite with him. Chubaty and two co-workers were brought to the surface of a gold and copper mine near Iskut, B.C., about 1,600 kilometres north of Vancouver, Thursday night after becoming trapped Tuesday morning. DAVE MIDDLETON / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The entrance to the Red Chris mine near Iskut, B.C., is shown on Wednesday. 'Thank you everyone for reaching out. What a wild week this has been. Glad to be outta there!' Chubaty wrote in a Facebook post about nine hours after the rescue. 'To all my mining brothers, stay safe down there and to everyone else as well!' Chubaty, a driller, and co-workers Kevin Coumbs, from Ontario, and Darien Maduke, from B.C., went into a steel refuge chamber after two ground falls occurred in an access tunnel, blocking their exit at the Red Chris mine, which is operated by Denver-based Newmont Corp. The three men are contractors who work for Smithers, B.C.-based Hy-Tech Drilling. They were stuck about 280 metres below the surface. Chubaty's grandmother, Helen Chubaty, said she was relieved and excited when she was told Friday morning that her grandson had been rescued and was safe. 'I can hardly wait to see him,' she said from her Winnipeg home, while watching TV coverage of the rescue on a national news channel. 'It's hard when something like this happens, and the communication isn't there. 'We didn't know anything, so in your mind you're always thinking about the worst. Thank God everything worked out good for them.' She said her 33-year-old grandson, who is from Transcona and is engaged to be married, works as a driller in several provinces, but has a home in Winnipeg. He's been a driller for about a decade, she said. 'That's his thing. He likes that,' she said. 'Whether he'll still do it, I don't know. I would say that he probably will do it.' Mark Chubaty, who travelled to Smithers, B.C., from Winnipeg while his son was trapped in the mine, thanked people for their concern, while he deferred comment to Hy-Tech Drilling Friday. The men were rescued at about 10:40 p.m. local B.C. time Thursday, following a carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, Newmont Corp. head of safety Bernard Wessels told a televised news conference near Iskut. They had consistent access to food, water and air in the refuge chamber, he said. Wessels said the workers mentioned that they caught up on sleep while they were trapped. 'We are deeply relieved that all three individuals are safe, and in good health and spirits,' he said. 'We thank Kevin, Darien and Jesse, who have held hope and strength through every moment in this incident. We will never forget the courage they have shown.' Officials hailed the trio for following safety training, while thanking personnel who were involved in the rescue. 'The most important thing here is having Jesse, Darien and Kevin out safe. It was quite a euphoric evening,' Hy-Tech Drilling president Dwayne Ross told the news conference. The workers were checked over medically when they exited the mine. Counselling was made available to them. Wessels said the most important thing for the men was to spend the day with their families. After flying in camera-equipped drones to confirm the area was stable, rescuers used large, remote-controlled scoops to clear a blockage that Newmont Corp. said was about 20 to 30 metres long and seven to eight metres high. A team then used a vehicle, equipped with 'fall on protection,' to bring the workers out of the mine one at a time. The initial ground fall occurred at about 7:45 a.m. Tuesday. Newmont Corp. said the workers, who were more than 500 metres past the ground fall, went to a self-contained chamber with enough food, water and ventilation for an extended stay. Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. A second ground fall occurred in the same area at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, cutting off direct communication with the workers. The refuge chamber was about 700 metres from the ground fall. Newmont Corp. said natural air continued to flow toward the chamber despite the ground fall. Wessels said officials were nervous but remained patient in order to complete the rescue in a safe way. 'Goosebumps and happiness' is how he described the moment the workers emerged. Wessels said the company is investigating the incident to learn more about what happened and to try to prevent it from happening again. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Miners trapped underground for 60 hours at remote site in Canada. Now, good news
Three drilling workers have been rescued after spending more than 60 hours trapped underground at a Canadian mine. Two 'fall of ground incidents' occurred on the morning of July 22 at Red Chris Mine in British Columbia, according to a news release from mine operator Newmont Corporation. The first collapse happened while three contractors with Hy-Tech Drilling — Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty — were working about 1,600 feet away, according to the release. They made it to one of several MineARC refuge chambers, but a second collapse soon blocked the access tunnel with debris,the company said. The cave-in covered an area roughly 100 feet long and 26 feet high, trapping the workers and cutting off communication. According to Newmont corporation, the designated safe area where the workers took refuge was not impacted by the collapse and was 'stable and well-ventilated.' 'Following around-the-clock effort' and a 'meticulously executed rescue plan,' the company's specialized line-of-sight scoop cleared the debris from the access tunnel around 8:30 p.m. on July 24, according to the release. The three workers were brought to the surface two hours later. 'We are relieved to share that all three individuals are safe, and in good health and spirits,' Newmont said, adding that the workers'demonstrated the utmost dedication' to safety procedures. 'We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and will share the lessons learned transparently across the industry,' Newmont said in the release. The Red Chris property, where copper and gold are mined, encompasses 23,142 hectares. The property is in northwestern British Columbia, about 175-miles from Juneau, Alaska.
National Observer
5 days ago
- General
- National Observer
Three BC mine workers safe after 'meticulously executed' rescue
Three workers who were trapped in a remote northern British Columbia mine have been rescued after more than 60 hours underground. Red Chris mine operator Newmont Corp. said the three men were safely bought to the surface at about 10:40 p.m. on Thursday. It said Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty — contractors for BC-based Hy-Tech Drilling — were in good health and spirits after being trapped underground by two rockfalls on Tuesday morning. "This was a carefully planned and meticulously executed rescue plan," the company said in a statement. Newmont said that the men had consistent access to food, water, and air in a refuge chamber of the gold and copper mine about 500 kilometres northwest of Terrace, BC. It described an operation involving drones and a remote-controlled scoop that dug away a massive rockfall, estimated to be 20 to 30 metres long and seven to eight metres high. "[Our] specialized line-of-sight scoop successfully cleared the fallen debris from the access tunnel. With the area stabilized, the emergency response team advanced across the impacted zone using equipment with an engineered falling object protective system," it said. Such systems are typically used to enclose vehicles and operators in dangerous environments. "Upon reaching the refuge chamber, the team found Kevin, Darien, and Jesse in stable condition. Together with the emergency response team, they returned to surface using the same protected equipment." The company based in Denver, Colo., called the outcome a "result of tireless collaboration, technical expertise, and above all, safety and care." "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the rescue teams and all those involved." It said the workers were being supported by medical and wellness teams and their families had been notified. BC's Mining and Critical Minerals Minister Jagrup Brar said in a social media post that he "can't describe the relief we all feel knowing that these three workers are going to be able to go home to their families." The rescue came just a few hours after Newmont's global safety chief, Bernard Wessels, expressed confidence in the rescue. He said drones had flown over the debris blockage at the mine and found a stable route to the steel safety refuge where the men were sheltering. "There is natural flow of air through, which is really a positive sign, where the workers are located," Wessels told a virtual press briefing, speaking on Thursday afternoon from the mine site. The workers were identified by Hy-Tech, saying Coumbs was from Ontario, Maduke from BC and Chubaty from Manitoba. It described Coumbs and Chubaty as drillers and Maduke as a driller's helper.
