An Irishman has been killed in an explosion at a mine in Australia.
The explosion at the Endeavour mine in Cobar, about 600km northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time. The mine is a polymetallic mine that extracts silver, zinc, and lead.
Ambrose “Ambie” McMullen, who was 59 and originally from Cootehill, Co. Cavan, was one of three people who were caught up in the blast at Endeavour.
Pic: Shutterstock
Two women in their early 20s were also injured in the explosion, and one woman passed away a short time later.
It’s understood that Mr Ambie McMullen had been living in Australia with his wife, Regina, and their four children, and he has been remembered fondly in Cootehill, County Cavan, for his involvement with the local soccer team and for his time playing GAA in the area.
Mr McMullen was a friend of former RTE reporter, now Midlands NorthWest MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who spoke of his shock and said he was ‘deeply saddened by this terrible news’.
Pic: Jenny Evans/Getty Images
In a post on social media, Mr Mullooly said, ‘Ambie was a treasured colleague when we both worked for Eugene McGee in the Cavan Leader at 21 Farnham Street, Cavan in the 1980s and 1990s. Ambie was a lovely man – great fun and craic, and we enjoyed many a night out. I am really sorry for his family and extend my deepest sympathy to his family and friends on their sad loss. RIP Ambie. Farewell, old friend.’
The cause of the explosion at the mine is being investigated by Australian police, who said emergency services were called to Endeavour Mine Road, Cobar, at about 3.45 am. Officers were told that a man had been confirmed dead after the underground explosion, and that two women were also brought to the surface, but one later died.
The second woman was airlifted to hospital suffering from shock, and is thought to be in a stable condition.
The local Mayor of Cober Shire, Jarrod Marsden, said the tight-knit mining community is devastated by the news, and added that the number one priority in any mine must be safety. He said ‘Everyone who goes to work has the right to come home’.