TAMPA, FL, Nov 24 (MARKET WIRE) --
Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) reported the death of an employee today at Jim
Walter Resources No. 7 Mine. The name of the deceased is being withheld
pending family notification.
Late Monday evening, two Jim Walter Resources employees were conducting a
routine inspection of a non-production area of Mine No. 7 when they missed
a scheduled check-in point. Mine managers dispatched additional personnel
to the inspection area to investigate.
When the miners were located, one was found to be responsive and the other
unresponsive. The responsive miner has been safely evacuated. During the
evacuation, several members of the evacuation team began exhibiting signs
of heat stress and were taken to the hospital as precaution.
"My deepest sympathies and the sympathies of the entire Walter Energy
family go out to the family of the deceased," said George R. Richmond,
president and chief operating officer of Walter Energy. "We will order a
full investigation as to the cause of today's incident."
Production at the No. 7 Mine has been idled and the Company expects the
mine to be idle for at least 24 hours.
About Walter Energy
Walter Energy is a leading U.S. producer and exporter of premium coking
coal for the global steel industry and also produces steam coal and
industrial coal, metallurgical coke and coal bed methane gas. The Company
has revenues of approximately $1.2 billion and employs approximately
2,150 people. For more information about Walter Energy, please visit the
Company website at www.walterenergy.com.
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