West Virginia Coal Miner Found Dead After 5-Day Search

A missing miner in West Virginia was found dead on Nov. 13 after a five-day search, Alpha Metallurgical Resources confirmed in a statement.

Steve Lipscomb, a 42-year-old foreman at the Rolling Thunder Mine, was discovered at 7:37 a.m. by a two-man search team, part of a rescue effort that followed a flood Saturday in the Nicholas County mine in the center of the state.

“Our hearts are broken,” Alpha CEO Andy Eidson wrote in a public statement on Nov. 13.

“Steve joined our company in 2006 and was a dedicated employee, respected leader and friend to many. His actions to ensure the safety of his crew members were heroic. On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to his wife, two children, and all who knew and cared for him.”

Lipscomb’s body was discovered nearly an hour and a half after water levels inside the mine receded and allowed rescue crews to enter.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the mine rescue teams, agency officials, and all who worked tirelessly under extreme conditions throughout the multi-day rescue and recovery effort,” Eidson said. “We are deeply saddened by the outcome, but thankful for the courage, professionalism and perseverance of these responders.”

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey and his wife, Denise, shared their condolences in a statement on Thursday morning.

“Our state knows this kind of pain all too well,” Morrisey wrote.

“Mining is more than an industry here—it’s a brotherhood, a way of life, and a source of pride. When tragedy strikes, we grieve together, we stand together, and we support one another as one West Virginia family.”

Lipscomb, from the small town of Elkview, was working with a 17-person crew on Nov. 8 when a “sudden and substantial inflow of water” trapped him inside the mine, according to Alpha.

Lipscomb prioritized saving his coworkers first, but did not have time to escape himself.

“He was last seen attempting to ensure his crew made it out safely,” the company reported. “All other miners in the area were able to safely evacuate the mine.”

Search and rescue teams worked around the clock for five days in an attempt to save Lipscomb, using pumps to lower water levels inside the mine. At one point, crews were able to pump approximately 6,000 gallons of water per minute.

Alpha is working with federal and state authorities to investigate what caused the flood.