Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Lupin Mine (Dec 17/01) - A man who had been decorated for bravery died at the Lupin Mine on Dec. 7, pinned between a piece of heavy equipment and a rock face.

A co-worker found David Francis Matthews, 52, originally from Grande Cache, Alta.

The government of Nunavut, the RCMP and the Workers' Compensation Board are all investigating the death.

Nunavut's chief coroner, Elizabeth Copland, said last week she is waiting for reports from the RCMP and the WCB before releasing her own, likely in a few weeks.

The body was sent to Edmonton for an examination, although there is no suspicion of foul play.

Matthews was an employee of Echo Bay Mines. He died at about 8:20 p.m. while working underground.

In 1994, Matthews received a medal of bravery for trying to rescue 26 coal miners trapped underground after a methane gas explosion at Nova Scotia's Westray Mine in 1992.

All the miners died.