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Worker dies underground at mine Worker dies underground at mine
(about 1 hour later)
A worker has been killed in an accident underground at the UK's only potash mine. A 24-year-old man has been killed in an accident underground at the UK's deepest working mine.
The man, who has not been named, died at Boulby potash mine in Teesside on Thursday afternoon. Face miner Darren Compton was killed by falling rocks at Boulby potash mine in Teesside on Thursday afternoon.
Few details have been released but in a statement Cleveland Potash Limited said the worker died from injuries suffered in the incident. Cleveland Potash Limited said he had been operating equipment supporting a sidewall in a recently mined roadway at the time of the accident.
The Inspectorate of Mines has been informed and an investigation into the death has begun. A Health and Safety Executive official is at the site and an investigation into the death has begun.
The mine, situated near the north-east coast, employs more than 800 people. Mr Compton, of Brotton, Teesside, had worked at the mine for two-years.
'Scientific research' 'Tragic incident'
Its shaft is 1,100 metres deep, making it the UK's deepest working mine, and its tunnels reach far out under the sea. Cleveland Potash managing director Graham Clarke said underground working had been halted as a mark of respect.
He said: "Everyone involved with the company is deeply saddened by this tragic incident.
"We expect that the investigation may take several days to reach a full conclusion."
The mine, situated near the north-east coast, employs about 850 people.
Its shaft is 1,100 metres deep (3,600ft) making it the UK's deepest working mine, and its tunnels reach far out under the sea.
Scientific research
The site, which opened in 1972, produces more than one million tons of potash each year and the mineral is sold for use in the manufacture of fertilizers and glass.The site, which opened in 1972, produces more than one million tons of potash each year and the mineral is sold for use in the manufacture of fertilizers and glass.
More than half a million tons of salt is also mined at the site each year and this is used in road maintenance, animal feed and sugar beet cultivation. More than half a million tons of salt is also mined at the site annually and this is used in road maintenance, animal feed and sugar beet cultivation.
Since the early-1990s the mine has also been a centre for scientific research into dark matter, a mysterious unseen component which forms most of the universe.Since the early-1990s the mine has also been a centre for scientific research into dark matter, a mysterious unseen component which forms most of the universe.
State-of-the-art detectors have been installed in a sub-surface observatory in the hope of finding out more about the matter, which is almost impossible to detect in a laboratory on the Earth's surface.State-of-the-art detectors have been installed in a sub-surface observatory in the hope of finding out more about the matter, which is almost impossible to detect in a laboratory on the Earth's surface.