In the final hours of Tuesday, April 15, Philip Grant, 35, of Metford, and Jamie Mitchell, 49, of Aberdare, perished when a wall collapsed in the mine where they were working. 

The tragedy has left children without their fathers and devastated those who loved them. 

The men were working 500 metres below the surface and 10 kilometres along the Austar Coal Mine in Paxton when a wall collapsed about 9.50pm on Tuesday.

Five workmates tried to save them, but were forced to leave the mine because of safety fears.

A rescue mission was launched, but both men were pronounced dead just after midnight.

It is believed Mr Grant told a friend he was concerned about working underground. 

Mr Grant’s friend and neighbour, Aleisha Eslick, said the young father was aware of the dangers associated with mining.

“He mentioned a few things. I can’t think of anything specific, but I think just being underground worried him,” she told reporters. 

“You couldn’t not be worried about it.”

Mr Grant’s parents travelled from their hometown of Bathurst yesterday to meet with authorities.

It’s understood Mr Mitchell had been a coal miner in the area for many years.

Mine rescue teams yesterday began a delicate operation to recover the men but police warned it could take a number of days to bring their bodies to the surface.

“There is a fair bit of equipment and coal in the area that needs to be removed to be able to get access to them,” Superintendent Garry O’Dell said.

Grief stricken members of the Paxton community visited the entrance of the mine site to lay floral tributes in memory of the men.

“Everyone will rally around, my deepest sympathies [go to the miners’ families],” former mine employee and Paxton resident Sheree Burdett said.

“I couldn’t in a million years ­comprehend what they are going to go through, but with any luck ­everyone will rally around them.”

Mrs Burdett said her father was a miner for 40 years.

“Every night you pray that they will come home.”

One tribute read: “To the two families of the most genuine, hard-working blokes, our deepest condolences to you all. Thoughts are with you all.”