South Yorkshire Times, May 11, 1946
Sudden Fall
Denaby Miner Fatally Crushed
Evidence that about 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning shortly after the conveyor belt had been started there was a severe bump causing a fall of roof which killed Edward Knight (62), of 20, and Isla Street, Denaby, was given at the inquest at Denaby on Friday, when the Doncaster district coroner (Mr W. H. Carlile) recorded a verdict of “accidental death.”
William Thomas, Mansall, miner, of 41, Doncaster Road, Denaby, said after Knight started the conveyor belt, there was a severe bump and the roof fell. Knight shouted for help, and witness with other workmates tried to release Knight by pulling him by the arms. He was pinned by a bar over which lay a large stone. It was some 15 minutes before they were able to release him, and he appeared to be dead.
Dr Peter Milligan, Doncaster pathologist, who made a post-mortem examination, said ribs were broken on both sides of the body. Cause of death was contusion of the lungs due to crushing.
About 7:10 a.m. on Wednesday, William Henry Betteridge, deputy of 66, Elm Green Lane, Conisbrough, said he examine the roof and considered the place safe. It was a good roof and well supported. He made a further visit up 9:20 a.m. He shouted for the conveyor belt to be started, which it did almost immediately and then stopped. When it stopped he was about 170 yards away from the place of accident. Knight was buried by stone, and had been forced on to his knees with his chest almost touching his knees. He made an examination of the place after the fall and found a piece of stone had slipped off the right-hand side of the gate and rerelease the cocker arms which had caused the fall to spread across the gate.
In reply to H. M. Inspector of mines, Mr M. G. Davies, he considered remodelling the gate in advance of the conveyor and lining the roadway with arched girders to be a better system of working, and it is understood that this idea is to be adopted at the colliery.