In this image taken from a video provided by WCHS, an emergency vehicle drives past a sign for the Rolling Thunder mine near Drennen, W.Va., Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (WCHS via AP)

CHARLESTON – Rescue crews located the body of a missing miner in Nicholas County this morning.

A two-man team found the body of foreman Steve Lipscomb at 7:37 a.m., according to a statement from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

Lipscomb was believed to be trapped at the Rolling Thunder Mine – owned by Alpha Metallurgical Resources – after a section of the mine wall collapsed and caused flooding Saturday. Efforts to find the man had been ongoing since, utilizing specialized dive teams and a de-watering effort to remove water from the mine.

Each shift included roughly eight workers on the surface coordinating and loading supplies and another eight staging and fusing a new waterline, according to the governor’s statement.

At approximately 6 a.m. today, water levels receded sufficiently for rescue crews to enter, the statement said.

The Rolling Thunder coal mine near Swiss, in Nicholas County, West Virginia, is seen in this aerial photo on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (Sean McCallister/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)

“Crews had worked tirelessly around the clock in 12-hour shifts in a search for their colleague,” the statement said. “Their commitment and professionalism have been unwavering throughout the operation.”

“This morning’s news is absolutely heartbreaking. Denise and I are devastated to learn of the loss of Mr. Lipscomb, and we are praying for his family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time,” Morrisey said. “Our state knows this kind of pain all too well. Mining is more than an industry here — it’s a brotherhood, a way of life, and a source of pride. When tragedy strikes, we grieve together, we stand together, and we support one another as one West Virginia family.”

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., offered condolences on X.

“Miners represent the very best of West Virginia and this community is deeply ingrained in our state’s history,” she said. “I’ve been deeply inspired by our heroic first responders and divers doing everything possible to bring their colleague home to his loved ones. They demonstrated immense courage and resilience in the face of treacherous circumstances, and I thank them for their efforts.”