Appin Colliery 1979
24/07/1979 -
Appin -
Explosion /
Methane Explosion
At 11pm on Tuesday 24th July 1979 an explosion of methane gas in K Panel of Appin Colliery resulted in the deaths of 14 workers. This disaster was associated with a changeover of ventilation that was intended to create a situation whereby a central intake, in a three heading development panel, would be shielded from intake gas by returns on each side.
This accident claimed the lives of 14 people, these were: Alexander Lawson, Alwyn Brewin, Francis Garrity, Garry Woods, Geoffrey Johnson , Ian Giffard, James Oldcorn, John Stonham, Jurgen Lauterbach, Karl Staats, Peter Peck, Robert Rawcliffe, Roy Rawlings, Roy Williams