Man dies after mining pit caves in in Region Seven

Relatives of 26-year-old ONeil Richardson are mourning his loss after a mining pit caved-in on him in the Puruni area in Region Seven on Sunday.

According to reports, Richardson, who lived at the village of Goshen near Bartica, was carrying out mining detection work in the pit when it caved in on him. He was alone at the time and other workmen at the camp went in search of him after he did not return to the camp after several hours had passed.

Richardson’s mining detector was found sticking out of the pit and the other miners suspected that he was covered down since the sides of the pit had broken apart. His lifeless body was later pulled from under the rubble.

Reports from Bartica are that there was another mining related incident on Friday in which a miner was trapped in a pit. He was medivaced to the city for further medical attention.

Over the years there have been multiple mining-related deaths within the gold mining industry as a result of cave-ins. Richardson’s death was the first fatality recorded this year within the gold mining industry.