FRANKFORT, Ky. - A 62 year-old ironworker is dead after an accident at the Paradise Mine in Central City, Kentucky. 

According to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), Richard Knapp, an employee of Fricke Management and Contracting out of Murphysboro, Illinois, was building a form that would be used to fill a mine shift with concrete. It is part of an effort to seal and close the mine.  A methane gas explosion in the shaft caused Knapp to fall to his death.

EEC Secretary Charles Snavely said, “On behalf of the Cabinet, I want to extend my heartfelt prayers to the Knapp family as all parties work as swiftly as possible in the recovery effort.”

EEC mine personnel from across Kentucky, as well as representatives from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and mine owner, Kenamerican Resources, Inc. are at the mine assisting with the recovery operation.  Operations at the mine were shut down Wednesday and remain closed.