Mine rescuers not considered at mall collapse, disaster team commander says

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The head of the disaster team at last year’s mall collapse in Elliot Lake, Ont., says he did not believe mine rescuers had the ability to safely enter the dangerous building.

However, Bill Neadles admits he had no idea what their capabilities might have been, nor did he try to find out.

Members of the community were furious Neadles had called off the search, and they wanted miners to go in.

Neadles also tells the inquiry into the tragedy that after a call with then-premier Dalton McGuinty, his team devised a last-ditch plan to find a woman who might have still been alive.

The plan involved having a large crane brought in to move a collapsing escalator away from where the victims were.

Neadles says he didn’t believe anyone was still alive in the rubble but still hoped that might happen.