THE Brazilian miner who was killed on Friday after a pit at Micobie, Region Eight caved in on him has been identified as Sebastian Faries, 57, of Mahdia, also in Region Eight.

According to reports, Faries and others were working in the pit when it suddenly gave way.

His colleagues were reportedly able to run to safety, but unfortunately, he couldn’t. His motionless body was later pulled from the pit and taken to the Mahdia Hospital, where doctors confirmed he was dead.

Faries was allegedly working on a dredge that had not been cleared by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to mine in the area.

According to investigations, permission had been granted by the Micobie Village Council without informing or consulting the GGMC prior to doing so.

The death is being investigated by the police, the GGMC and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Region Eight has over the years experienced a number of deadly mining accidents, one notable incident was back in May 2015 when a pit collapsed at Mowasi Backdam, claiming the lives of 10 miners.

Following that mishap, President David Granger immediately established a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe the spate of accidents in the gold and diamond-mining industries.

According to the findings of the investigation, which was released in that very year, the sector recorded some 28 deaths over a 15-month period, most of them as a result of pit cave-ins.

The probe also revealed that between 2012 and 2015, 62 miners, mostly young men, lost their lives while on the job.

And one of the main reasons being given for the occurrence of those accidents, it was found, was negligence on the part of some workers themselves to adhere to safe mining practices, many times at the risk of their very own lives.

The CoI found that there was a pervading culture of laxness towards safety, and that clear rules must be applied and enforced.