Toxic gas blamed for miner's death

Toxic gas blamed

for miner's death

The Mines Inspectorate last night launched an inquiry into the death of a miner thought to have been asphyxiated after an inrush of gas 650 metres below ground at Thoresby colliery, in Nottinghamshire.

Andrew Fielding, 39, a father-of-two, is the first fatality at a pit run by RJB Mining, which last year bought the bulk of British Coal. Two other miners and four rescue workers were treated for breathing problems. The National Union of Mineworkers said miners at the pit had been complaining for weeks about oil fumes.