Tragic outcome in search for missing miners at Dugald River

Following a significant search and rescue operation at the Dugald River Underground Mine and further to recent announcements, it is with great sadness that Perenti advises of the tragic loss of our colleagues Trevor Davis and Dylan Langridge, the two previously missing Barminco employees.

Managing Director & CEO of Perenti Mark Norwell said, “This is a devastating outcome and I want to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of Trevor and Dylan, both of whom should have come home safely from work yesterday.”

Yesterday morning, at approximately 125 metres below the surface, an incident occurred resulting in three Barminco employees, one in a drill rig and two in a light vehicle, falling approximately 15 metres into a void within a previously backfilled stope. The drill rig operator was rescued and received medical treatment for minor injuries. Tragically, through the rescue effort it has been confirmed that the two other Barminco employees, Trevor Davis and Dylan Langridge were fatally injured.

Dylan Langridge was 33 years old and joined Barminco in March 2020 as a truck operator at Savannah before joining the service crew at Dugald River later that year. Dylan continued to progress his career at Dugald River and in October 2021 took up the role of charge up operator.

Trevor Davis was 36 years old and joined Barminco in August 2020 as a shotcrete operator at Rosemont, before transferring to Dugald River as a charge up operator in November 2021.

Both Dylan and Trevor were valued team members and well respected across both sites and the wider Barminco team.

Mark Norwell added, “Our immediate and ongoing focus is on providing support to the families, friends and colleagues of Trevor and Dylan.

“Barminco has been operating at MMG’s Dugald River mine since early 2012 with members of our workforce residing in the local area. This tragic incident is devastating and will have a lasting impact on not only the families and friends of Trevor and Dylan but also on the workforce of Dugald River, the Cloncurry and Mount Isa communities and the entire Perenti workforce.

“The safety of our employees is an absolute priority for Perenti, as it is for the industry more broadly. I am devastated that the families and friends of our two workmates have lost their loved ones. This outcome is simply not acceptable.

“In collaboration with MMG and the relevant authorities in Queensland, we will work to understand the circumstances behind this tragic incident and what additional measures need to be put in place to prevent this type of incident happening again.

“We would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly under very challenging conditions in the recovery of Trevor and Dylan.

“The rescue operation has now sadly completed. Our primary focus is that of support for the families and colleagues of Trevor and Dylan and in parallel completing a comprehensive investigation.”

Unless further material information comes to light, no further formal updates will be provided such that our full resources can continue to focus on supporting the families and conducting the investigation.

We ask that the privacy of the families of Trevor and Dylan, and their work colleagues, is respected during this deeply distressing time.