Welsh mine deaths: Phillip Hill Gleision family tribute

Local people have been visiting Resolven Church Hall to offer their condolences
The family of one of the four miners who died in a Swansea Valley colliery have been to the mine to pay tribute.

Phillip Hill, 45, died in flooded Gleision Colliery near Pontardawe along with colleagues Garry Jenkins, 39, David Powell, 50, and Charles Breslin, 62.

The family added three floral tributes to others already left at the scene, pausing to comfort each other.

An inquiry has been announced into the cause of the tragedy.

Mr Hill's daughter Kyla also laid a bunch of flowers with a card, which read: "Hi dad, I love and miss you forever. Love you all the money in the world and America. From Kyla x"

Another card from the family said: "Thank you for being part of our lives. Our girls will be safe with me. Miss you always. Donna x Meg"

The family also left a third bunch of flowers. The card said: "Phil, Kyla and Meg are in good hands, so sleep tight. Love Sadie and Brett xxx".

The body of Garry Jenkins, 39, was the first to be discovered in Gleision Colliery

Among the other people leaving tributes to the four men were the widow and daughters of a miner killed underground in a previous tragedy: Alan Jones, who was killed in Blaenant Colliery, Crynant, in 1976.

On their card they wrote: "To the families of miners lost. May you find courage and strength over the coming days, months and years ahead."

Earlier, safety experts promised lessons would be learned from the investigation.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was too early to know what caused the mine shaft to flood with water।

Police have now formally identified the men who died and the order in which their bodies were found.

Mr Jenkins was found first, followed by Mr Powell, Mr Hill and then Mr Breslin. Mr Hill was from Neath and the other three men were from the Swansea Valley.

Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has announced the inquiry will initially be led by South Wales Police before it is handed over to the HSE.

In a joint statement, the HSE and Wales Office said it was too early to give a possible cause.

HSE specialist mine inspectors are on site working closely with the police.

An appeal fund has been launched to raise money for relatives, with local MP Peter Hain tweeting shortly before 17:00 BST that more than £10,000 had been raised so far.

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