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Full Details

Surname
EWING
Forename
Alexander
Day
07
Month
11
Year
1958
Age
35
Occupation
Pit Sinker
Mine/Quarry Name
Polmaise, Nos 3 & 4 Pits
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
National Coal Board
Location
Stirling
County
Stirlingshire
Details of Event
Drowned in shaft. Ten children, whose ages ranged from four months to 14 years, where left fatherless on Friday (7 November 1958) when Alexander Ewing (35), Pit Sinker of Huntly Crescent, Stirling, the father of the children, was drowned while working in the new shaft at Polmaise Colliery, Fallin. Ewing, who was employed by the Cementation Co Ltd, had been working 1,900 feet underground on a scaffolding when he fell 25 feet into a sump containing seven feet of water. Seconds later he disappeared below the surface. A valiant effort to save his workmate's life was made by 24 year old Charles Ward who ran to Ewing's aid. He was about to dive into the water when he was stopped by one of the men beside him who insisted that he discard his heavy waterproof clothing and boots and tie a rope round his waist. Pumpmen drained some of the water from the sump but still the body could not be found. Then the police arrived with grappling hooks and once more Ward descended into the sump and using the hooks brought the body to the surface three hours after it had disappeared. Ward said this was a terrible experience which he would remember as long as he lived. (Stirling Journal).