Camilla Jessen
“He made sure they got out”: Miner dies rescuing crew.
A community in West Virginia is mourning a Marine veteran whose final act was spent protecting the people he worked alongside.
What began as an ordinary shift inside a Kanawha County coal mine ended in a desperate rush to save lives.
Authorities and company leaders say the mine foreman did what he had always done, put others first, even when the water began rising around him.
Sudden disaster underground
According to statements reported by state officials, 42-year-old Steven M. Lipscomb was supervising his crew at the Rolling Thunder Mine on Nov. 8 when an aging interior wall failed, unleashing an unexpected torrent of water.
Every miner under his watch made it out alive.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Lipscomb “spent his final moments ensuring his men could escape to safety,” adding that the state “mourns the loss of this courageous man.”
Rescue teams worked continuously for five days before conditions allowed them to enter the mine. Morrisey said crews reached the flooded section at dawn and, about 90 minutes later, a two-man team located the foreman’s body.
Alpha Metallurgical Resources CEO Andy Eidson called Lipscomb’s final actions “heroic” and said the company extends its condolences to his wife, their two children, and all who knew him.
Courage forged in combat
Lipscomb’s wife, Heather, told the U.S. Department of War that her husband’s sense of duty was shaped long before his mining career.
A Marine rifleman, he fought in the First Battle of Fallujah and survived a roadside bomb in 2004. She described him as “a very selfless person” who always put the safety of others first.
Company records cited by Eidson show that Lipscomb joined Alpha in 2006, rising to foreman in 2015 and earning a reputation as a steady, respected leader underground.
He was also a devoted father to two daughters, ages 13 and 17. Heather said his greatest fulfillment came from their family life, which they built together after his military service.
A loss felt statewide
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said “Steve’s life will forever be an example of service and sacrifice.”
Vice President JD Vance, also a Marine veteran, honored him simply: “A great American. Semper Fi, Steve.”
Gov. Morrisey noted the wider grief felt in mining communities, calling the industry “a brotherhood” that stands together in tragedy.
Industry outlet Coal Zoom reported that Lipscomb’s death marked the 29th mining-related fatality of the year, including five in West Virginia — the highest of any state.
Sources: Governor Patrick Morrisey via X; Coal Zoom; Newsner
