IRISHMAN KILLED IN MINING BLAST

Ambrose, 59, died in Oz after explosive charges 'went off unexpectedly'

- BY RUAIRI SCOTT BYRNE

AN Irishman was among two people killed yesterday in an underground explosion at a mine in the Australian state of New South Wales.

Police said emergency services had been called to the mine on Endeavour Mine Road at Cobar, about 600km northwest of Sydney, at about 3.45am after reports two people had been critically injured in a workplace incident.

According to local reports, three workers on a night shift had gone down the mine after setting explosives at the surface, but the charges unexpectedly detonated before they could reach safety.