It’s a dark day for a family in Vatukoula following the tragic incident of a 37 year old man who fell in a sinkhole at the Vatukoula Gold Mine on Wednesday.

The wife of the late Avinesh Ram, Poonam Kholi says the last time she spoke to her husband was on the phone just a few minutes before tragedy struck at the mine.

“We had breakfast together and he advised me to make curry for him and that he will be back at 5.30 in the afternoon but he gave me a call around 9.15am to tell me he was fine and that he was going underground and after that I did not receive any call.”

Kholi says the incident was relayed to her by one of her relatives.

She says she could not believe the news as her husband had worked at the mine for 14 years.

“He was a very nice and humble person he never talked loudly he was such a loyal and loving husband and it’s sad for me as I’m still hoping that he will return home but he hasn’t. He has left my three year old son behind.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mineral Resources are currently carrying out an investigation to ascertain what actually occurred.

A Board of Inquiry is also expected to meet tomorrow.

Operations at the mine where the tragic incident occurred have also ceased.