Gleision: 'A tragedy for all of Wales'

Rescue workers at the scene Credit: Tim Ireland/PA Wire

Tomorrow marks a year since the Gleision mining disaster, and the First Minister has led the tributes to the four men who lost their lives.

Carwyn Jones described the events of 15 September 2011 as 'a tragedy for all of Wales'.

Since the disaster, more than £1 million has been raised by an appeal fund set up to help the families of those killed.

David Powell, 50, Garry Jenkins, 39, Charles Breslin, 62, and Phillip Hill, 44, lost their lives when they became trapped and the mine in which they were working became flooded.

Following the incident, the Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service requested the help of Mines Rescue Units from across Wales and the UK to try and reach the miners trapped 90 meters (300ft) below the surface.

Despite the massive search and rescue effort the four bodies were recovered from the mine in the Swansea Valley 24 hours later.

It is the worst mining disaster to occur in Wales for three decades.

Speaking ahead of the first anniversary, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: