A MINING pit that collapsed on Saturday morning ‘swallowed’ a BOSAI employee and the T-9 bulldozer he was operating at the time.

The Sunday Chronicle understands that the employee has been identified as Linden resident, Neptune Hercules. The incident occurred at around 04:00 hrs. and up to press time, his body and the equipment were not yet located.

This newspaper was told that a large area of the mining pit collapsed, making it even more difficult for the authorities to locate the man’s body and bulldozer.

A search party is using metal detectors to assist in the location of the machine.

Hercules was slated to retire in September of this year, after dedicating 40 years to the mining industry.