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	Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	6th May 1949
Colliery:	Thornley
Company:	National Coal Board
Cause:	Inrush of water
Lives Lost:	3
Category:

Durham Colliery Flooding

Three Feared Drowned

Seaham Harbour, May 6

Three men are feared to have been drowned by an inrush of water in the Hutton seam of Thornley Colliery, County Durham, this afternoon. About 40 men were at work at the time and all were got out safely except four men who were trapped by the water.

One of these, Robert Holder, of School Square, Thornley, was got out alive. The body of another, Walter Rudkin (34), of Eighth Street, Wheatley Hill, was recovered, but at a late hour the other two had not been found. They were Matthew Purvis (43), of Second Street, Wheatley Hill, and William Kelly (37), of Wheatley Terrace, Wheatley Hill.

As soon as the accident became known colliery rescue brigades from Houghton-le-Spring, Crook, and Newcastle were summoned and descended the mine.

A statement issued by Mr. James Nimmo, deputy production director, northern division, N.C.B., says that an inrush of water occurred in a narrow heading near the old Cassop Vale shaft. This heading must have holed into old workings. No indication can be given of how long it will be before work can be resumed at the colliery.

Source: The Times, May 7th, 1949

Mine Flood Victims Found

Seaham Harbour, May 8

The body of William Kelly, aged 37, of Wheatley Terrace, Wheatley Hill, was recovered today. This is the second victim to be found of Friday's accident when three men were trapped by an inrush of water. The body of the third man, Matthew Purvis, aged 43, of Second Street, Wheatley Hill, was recovered to-night.

Source: The Times, May 9th, 1949

	Kelly, William, aged 37, drowned, address: Wheatley Terrace, Wheatley Hill, Buried: Wheatley Hill Cemetery
	Purvis, Matthew, aged 43, drowned, address: Second Street, Wheatley Hill, Buried: Wheatley Hill Cemetery
	Rudkin, Walter, aged 34, drowned, address: Eighth Street, Wheatley Hill, Buried: Wheatley Hill Cemetery
	All names found
	Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

07 May 1949	Durham Colliery Flooding, Three Feared Drowned (The Times)
09 May 1949	Mine Flood Victims Found (The Times)
06 Jan 1950	Award of British Empire Medal (Civil Division) (London Gazette)

 

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