A 39-year-old man has died while working at a coal mine in Sparwood, British Columbia. The Elk Valley Regional RCMP reported that the man, a resident of Hosmer, was reported missing on Thursday morning at Elkview Operations, which is operated by Elk Valley Resources. The police were notified at 7 a.m. local time.

Rescue teams from Elk Valley immediately began searching for the missing worker, with assistance from the RCMP. Tragically, the man's remains were discovered on Friday morning.

In a statement, Glencore Canada, the mine's owner, confirmed that the deceased was a contracted employee performing maintenance work at the time of the incident. Mike Carrucan, CEO of Elk Valley Resources, expressed condolences, stating, "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of this person. This is an incredibly difficult time for our Elkview Operations workforce." He added that the company is providing support services and counseling to its employees.

RCMP Corporal Brett Urano confirmed that the man's family has been notified. Authorities, including the B.C. Coroners Service and the Ministry of Mining, are on-site to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Glencore has announced plans for a full investigation into the incident. No further details regarding the circumstances of the man's death have been released. The situation remains under investigation by local authorities, and WorkSafeBC has been contacted for additional information.