The return to Pike River: How the deadly explosion broke the Rockhouse family

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

The hero of the Pike River disaster has returned to the mine's entrance for the first time, hoping to confront his demons. Jehan Casinader was there.

Daniel Rockhouse escaped a fiery death-trap. But 29 of his mates – including his brother – didn't make it.

Eight years on, Rockhouse has made an emotional return to the Pike River Mine near Greymouth.

He's visiting for the first time since the fatal explosion in 2010.

'It's a real eerie feeling,' he told TVNZ's Sunday programme, at the mouth of the mine.

* Pike River Minister Andrew Little says Crown should atone for failures to families

* Pike re-entry: 'This is a victory for the families and the little people'**

'I think about this place every single day of my life. It rules my life, whether I like it or not.'

The coalmine exploded at 3.44pm on 19 November 2010. Rockhouse saved the life of fellow miner Russell Smith, by helping him walk two kilometres, through poisonous gas, to reach the exit.

The act of heroism earned Rockhouse a New Zealand Bravery Medal.

Pike River survivor Daniel Rockhouse and his father, Neville Rockhouse, visiting the entrance to the mine for the first time since the 2010 explosion.

But he was unable to rescue his younger brother Ben, who is among 29 men that perished underground.

Pike River Re-Entry minister Andrew Little at the portal of the Pike River mine in 2018.

'I think my brother's face is permanently tattooed on my brain,' Rockhouse says.

'I just wonder what he did in his last moments. I wonder, did he suffer? Did he at least try and start walking out? Did he know how to put his [breathing apparatus] on? Did somebody help him.'

The answers to these questions may emerge in the coming weeks, as the Government prepares to re-open – and explore – the mine's only access tunnel, from May 3.

Recovery staff have spent weeks pumping the mine with nitrogen, to flush out the toxic methane that sparked the initial explosion.

Pike River survivor Daniel Rockhouse is back working in the mining industry.

Once it is deemed safe to enter the tunnel, they hope to recover evidence that may explain what caused the blast.

However, the agency is keen to emphasise that it is highly unlikely that human remains will be found in the tunnel.

'It'd be fantastic to get the guys back and give them the burial they deserve,' Rockhouse says.

'But if that's not a possibility, I want to at least find out what happened, so that the mining industry around the world can learn from it. And if need be, the right people can be brought to justice.'

The scene of the 2010 disaster in which 29 miners lost their lives.

On his visit to Pike River, Daniel Rockhouse was accompanied by his father, Neville Rockhouse, who was the mine's health and safety manager at the time of the blast.

Neville Rockhouse says he clashed with mine bosses, and was blocked from implementing stronger safety rules. However, he feels responsible for his role at Pike River.

'Twenty-nine men died on my watch, and that's something that I carry with me every day,' he says.

'You don't get over it, really.'

Neville and Daniel had a broken relationship in the wake of the tragedy, but have now made peace with each other.

The pair shared an emotional conversation at the mine entrance – the closest they can get to Ben's remains, which lie somewhere deep in the mine.

'To be here, it's pretty crazy,' says Daniel Rockhouse. 'It's something I needed to do. I needed to come back and pay my respects.'

Despite the trauma he experienced at Pike River, he has decided to return to underground coalmining in Queensland, Australia, where he now lives.

'Probably one of the best things I ever did is face my fear and say: 'Screw you. You're not ruling my life'.'

* The Sunday programme has Daniel Rockhouse's full story at 7.30pm Sunday on TVNZ1.