The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.
Vale has confirmed that an employee was killed by falling rock at Coleman Mine on Sunday.
“Vale regretfully announces that an employee was fatally injured this afternoon while working underground in the main ore body at the 4,215-foot level of the company’s Coleman Mine in Levack due to what appears to be some displacement of material from a development heading,” the company said in a release.
“The employee was found and brought to surface, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by medical authorities.” Vale said the immediate family has been notified, but the name of the employee is being withheld pending completion of the notification process.
The employee was 47 and had worked at the company for 16 years.
Greater Sudbury Police confirmed Sunday evening that an investigation is ongoing at the mine, but said they were not in a position to release any further information last night.
The Ministry of Labour and representatives of Vale and the United Steelworkers Local 6500 are also investigating.
Vale announced it has temporarily suspended operations at its mines in Sudbury.
Earlier Sunday, members of The Sudbury Star’s online UR Sudbury forum and the Strikef o rc e 6500 Facebook page reported the death.
People expressed their sorrow on Strikeforce 6500 and The Sudbury Star website.
“Grateful to see my husband come home tonight … and very sad for the wife and family of the fallen ‘brother’ …. Words can’t express the feelings at the moment … very sad,” one woman said on Strikeforce 6500.
“My condolences go out to the family who lost a loved one today at Coleman mine,” another man, who said he works at Coleman Mine, posted on Facebook.
“You are going to be missed so much. I could not believe it when I was told it was you. RIP brother,” said another, this time on The Sudbury Star’s website.
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