Skip to main content

A NSW Government website

Fatal incident near Lightning Ridge

The NSW Resources Regulator is responding to a reported fatal incident that occurred at a mine in the Grawin Opal Fields near Lightning Ridge on 14 October 2020.

A worker is reported to have received fatal injuries whilst working in the shaft of an underground opal mine. Attempts to revive the worker were unsuccessful.

A team of investigators and inspectors from the NSW Resources Regulator has been deployed to the site and a major investigation into the incident has commenced.

As the investigation is underway, no further information is available at this time.

The Regulator will release a preliminary investigation report into the incident once key details are known and within the next 14 days.

Recent Articles

Report

The results from the Resources Regulator’s annual high visibility campaign have been published for 2025. Conducted over 10 days in late June

Inspectors viewing strata support in an underground mine

Enforcement

On 7 August 2025 the NSW District Court entered a conviction relating to a workplace incident resulting in the death of a worker at the West

NSW government logo

Safety

Early bird tickets have been released for the 33rd Electrical Engineering Safety Seminar (EESS) to be held on 12 and 13 November 2025 at the

EESS 2025 event tile