by Belva, WV – A heartbreaking end to a six-day rescue mission unfolded early Thursday when crews located the body of a trapped coal miner deep inside a flooded West Virginia mine, bringing a tragic close to an intense, round-the-clock search effort that gripped the community.
Body of Missing Miner Recovered After Days of Flooding
Authorities confirmed that foreman Steven Lipscomb was found deceased approximately 3,600 feet underground inside the Rolling Thunder Mine. The search had begun on Saturday after mining crews accidentally breached a pocket of water, causing the mine to rapidly flood and trapping the 47-year-old in total darkness.
A two-man recovery crew finally reached the area early Thursday morning, six days after the flooding began, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who announced the grim development.
The discovery marked the third death at an Alpha Metallurgical Resources facility in West Virginia this year, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety issues within the region’s coal operations.
A Race Against Rising Water
Rescue teams battled relentless challenges from the start. The mine entrance was fully inundated, forcing crews to rely on pumping systems to drain enormous volumes of water before they could make a safe entry.
Machines pumped out water at a staggering 6,000 gallons per minute — the equivalent of filling an Olympic-sized pool in under two hours — yet progress was agonizingly slow. Morrisey noted that water levels were falling at only about one inch per hour, far too slow for teams desperate to reach Lipscomb in time.
“This was everything imaginable being done,” the governor said during Wednesday’s briefing. “There’s no quit in anyone here.”
How the Mine Flooded
The flooding began after workers struck an unexpected pocket of water roughly three-quarters of a mile into the mine — an incident authorities believe occurred when an old mine wall was compromised.
Rolling Thunder sits next to a once-active mine that operated in the 1930s and 1940s, and state officials said parts of the area contain complex, aging underground structures that complicate modern mining operations.
Multiple state agencies — along with Alpha mine crews — were involved in the emergency response.
Search Efforts Spanned Days and Multiple Agencies
To speed the draining process, teams drilled holes into the mine to assess water conditions and search for possible air pockets. Dive teams explored submerged areas, though conditions remained treacherous.
The National Cave Rescue Commission provided long-distance wired communication devices to improve coordination underground.
The United Mine Workers union also dispatched safety experts despite Rolling Thunder being a nonunion operation.
“We are all coal miners, and we all care about the safety and health of each other,” UMW President Brian Sanson said.
Nearby residents, local businesses, and county officials showed continuous support by providing meals, supplies, and manpower as teams worked 24/7.
Mining Company History and Safety Record
Rolling Thunder is one of 11 underground mines operated in West Virginia by Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which also operates facilities in Virginia. This year alone, Alpha mines in the region have experienced two other fatalities:
- In February, a contractor was killed when a coal seam collapsed at the Black Eagle mine.
- In August, a miner died when an elevator struck him at a Marfork Coal processing site.
A 2024 engineering report prepared for Alpha described the mine area as “extensively explored” with significant historical data, and indicated “no significant hydrologic concerns” — a finding now under renewed scrutiny.
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A Region Shaped by Coal and Resilience
The mine lies about 50 miles east of Charleston in a rural stretch of Nicholas County known both for its coal seams and outdoor tourism. Nearby Gauley River attracts thousands for fall whitewater rafting, and New River Gorge National Park draws visitors year-round.
Community members have pointed to past mine tragedies — including the 1968 Hominy Falls disaster and the 2002 Quecreek Mine incident — as reminders that while rescue miracles are possible, the risks beneath Appalachia’s mountains are profound.
Community Grieves Another Loss
As news spread of Lipscomb’s death, officials emphasized how deeply miners are tied to West Virginia’s identity.
“Miners are part of the family,” Gov. Morrisey said. “This is part of the fabric of our state.”
The loss of Steven Lipscomb adds another painful chapter to a long history of sacrifice in the region’s mining communities, and tributes have poured in from across the state for a man described as hardworking, dedicated, and respected by colleagues.
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