The body of the miner who fell into a slurry impoundment in Harrison County was recovered Friday, two weeks after an accident caused the employee’s death, CONSOL officials said.
Company officials said dive and rescue teams successfully completed a pipe and dive recovery effort at about 4:40 p.m. Friday. They recovered the body of Markel Koon, 58, of Shinnston. He worked for CONSOL for 37 years and 9 months, company officials said.
Koon’s body was in the cab of a submerged bulldozer at the Nolan Run slurry impoundment at the Robinson Run Preparation Plant.
Crews were delayed for a few days as they waited for more tools to arrive to be used in cutting the hole in the top of the cab. The torches they originally were using failed to stay lit long in the slurry pond.
The body of the operator was trapped in the cab after the dozer slid into Consol Energy’s Robinson Run impoundment on Nov. 30. An embankment collapse forced the bulldozer operator along with two other mine employees into the slurry pond.
The other two mine employees managed to get out safely.
The company issued a statement Friday afternoon.
“CONSOL Energy would like to express its deep gratitude to all of the dive rescue teams, who came to West Virginia from across the country, local emergency responders, and state and federal agencies who provided their expertise and support to develop, approve, and execute such a challenging recovery effort and to help bring closure to Mr. Koon’s family.”