0:00:06 > 0:00:10A second miner has been found, and tragically he was also deceased.
0:00:10 > 0:00:20Like a train coming down the passage way with a four-foot wall
0:00:20 > 0:00:23
0:00:23 > 0:00:33of water coming down it. It must have been horrendous. We would have
0:00:33 > 0:00:38
0:00:38 > 0:00:48moved this mountain to get those people back. I was ready for home
0:00:48 > 0:01:09
0:01:09 > 0:01:13after 36 hours, my energy sank. The Swansea Valley, steeped in
0:01:13 > 0:01:16mining tradition, they have had coal out of the ground here for
0:01:16 > 0:01:21generations. Once the industry provided work for thousands. Today
0:01:21 > 0:01:28just a handful still toil underground. And last Thursday
0:01:28 > 0:01:36Wales was reminded of the awful toll the industry has taken over
0:01:36 > 0:01:41the years. The alarm was raised at 9.30 on Thursday morning, after an
0:01:41 > 0:01:45hour massive operation was under way. It is a very dynamic rescue
0:01:45 > 0:01:50situation. The situation is changing on a regular basis.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Tonight, those at the centre of the rescue effort, recount for the
0:01:54 > 0:01:59first time what it was like as events unfolded. The officer in
0:01:59 > 0:02:05charge of a major incident like this is called Gold Commander.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08is unusual call, it is a call that we, certainly in my time, have not
0:02:08 > 0:02:12had, I felt there was something about T I spoke to one of my
0:02:12 > 0:02:16commanders, and at that time, it was then declared a critical
0:02:16 > 0:02:21incident. Because we had established that there were still
0:02:21 > 0:02:25miners unaccounted for. At first seven men are reported
0:02:25 > 0:02:29trapped, then it is clear three have escaped. The miners are
0:02:29 > 0:02:33located approximately 0ms underground. They are down a 250m
0:02:34 > 0:02:39main route into the mine, and at the end of that mine, it
0:02:39 > 0:02:43essentially turns left and then off that little mine shaft there are
0:02:43 > 0:02:50numerous little tunnels, et cetera, old workings, which all potentially
0:02:50 > 0:02:55have air pockets in. Mines rescue from nearby are sent
0:02:55 > 0:03:01to the scene, their job to get the miners out alive. The first thing
0:03:01 > 0:03:04we knew that at the bottom of the mine drift was flooded, there was
0:03:04 > 0:03:11no access. From witnesses we heard that the mine manager got out
0:03:11 > 0:03:16through an old workings. That is Malcolm Fifield? Yes. I quickly
0:03:16 > 0:03:20deployed a team into that Broadway, to explore to see if somebody had
0:03:20 > 0:03:24followed him out and it may have collapsed on the way out. They got
0:03:24 > 0:03:31three quarters of the way in and the oxygen levels were very low,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34which forced the teams back. I redeployed the teams using
0:03:34 > 0:03:38breathing apparatus. Malcolm Fifield is airlifted to Morriston
0:03:38 > 0:03:45Hospital in Swansea, the other two help the rescue effort, telling
0:03:45 > 0:03:49them what's happened and how they managed to escape.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53We wickly determined that two miners had left - quickly
0:03:53 > 0:03:58determined that two miners had left via the main access shaft, a 250m
0:03:58 > 0:04:03shaft, and there was a body of water at the bottom of that shaft.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08We also knew that a third miner had escaped via the old workings,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12through a route that actually wasn't shown on the plans. We also
0:04:12 > 0:04:19ascertained a what the water level within the mine would be. Any
0:04:19 > 0:04:24potential areas where miners could be located, and have an air supply.
0:04:24 > 0:04:31By mid-afternoon on Thursday, the severity of the accident becomes
0:04:31 > 0:04:34all too clear. Having talked to the police chander and also the rescue
0:04:34 > 0:04:38services - commander and also the rescue services, I'm satisfied
0:04:38 > 0:04:42everything is being done to rescue those men. It is a serious, grim
0:04:42 > 0:04:46situation. Late afternoon and more details begin to emerge. The
0:04:46 > 0:04:50accident appears to have happened after water gushed into Gleishion
0:04:50 > 0:04:54colliery, possibly from an old neighbouring mine works. The divers
0:04:55 > 0:05:00were able to report that there was no roof collapse, there was no
0:05:00 > 0:05:08damage to the actual passageway, just blockages caused by timbers
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and debris that had washed in with the inrush of water. Which was like
0:05:12 > 0:05:21a train coming down passage way with a four-foot wall of water in
0:05:21 > 0:05:25front of it. It must have been horrendous.
0:05:26 > 0:05:35Gleishion Drift Mine is on the banks of the River Tawe in
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Cilybebyll. It's dug into the side of a hill. The men were after
0:05:38 > 0:05:45highly-priced antrocyte coal, working in a Warren of tunnels,
0:05:45 > 0:05:49some of them very old. It wouldn't be unusual walking in the main
0:05:49 > 0:05:54tunnels and touching the walls on either sides and duck down to walk
0:05:54 > 0:05:59in. In the working places you may have reasonable heights to work in,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03five or six feet, perhaps more, in other places you may be working in
0:06:03 > 0:06:09two foot, less than a metre, that would be like working under your
0:06:09 > 0:06:14kitchen able all day. 60 years ago there were 50 small mines like
0:06:14 > 0:06:19Gleishion, scattered across Wales. By the time of the miners' strike
0:06:19 > 0:06:23in 1984, there were about 80. Today only one or two this small are in
0:06:23 > 0:06:27operation. You need to be ware of what is going on around you, you
0:06:27 > 0:06:31need to listen to hear the ground moving, you need to smell, because
0:06:31 > 0:06:36certain gases would give off an odour, you also need to see things,
0:06:36 > 0:06:41is the roof picking, is there bits falling from the roof. Water coming
0:06:41 > 0:06:46in. You would need especially to be aware of that. You may be in a wet
0:06:46 > 0:06:53mine. Gleishion is described as a wet mine. Requiring constant
0:06:53 > 0:06:58pumping out of water. Experts say it is familiar problem. The mine
0:06:58 > 0:07:03was working in a stick seam, within the seam there was old workings
0:07:03 > 0:07:10filled with water. Something happened in the cold workings which
0:07:10 > 0:07:15caused the old workings to be breached. In 1973, seven miners
0:07:15 > 0:07:20were trapped underground at the lot of house collie in west York shirk
0:07:20 > 0:07:25after a - Lofthouse Colliery in West Yorkshire after a sudden
0:07:25 > 0:07:30inrush of water. All of the men perished, only one body was
0:07:30 > 0:07:35recovered. It led to new recommendations, records to
0:07:35 > 0:07:40establish any potential hazards underground. If indeed you are in a
0:07:40 > 0:07:43mine and working in a seam, and you know there are some old workings
0:07:43 > 0:07:48which are filled with water, you have to take precautions according
0:07:48 > 0:07:55to the act, there is a Code of Practise that is clear. You are not
0:07:55 > 0:07:59allowed, within the same seam, to work within 37ms.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05It is the job of the mines' inspectorate to establish if a
0:08:05 > 0:08:13breach of these regulations led to the flooding of Gleishion collie on
0:08:13 > 0:08:16the morning of Thursday - gleerb colliery on the morning of -
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Gleision Colliery in the morning of the accident. The men were down
0:08:21 > 0:08:25there doing the job they were doing. Would that involve blasting? Day-
0:08:25 > 0:08:30to-day they do use explosives in the mine. It is a thin seam, it is
0:08:30 > 0:08:35a very professional form of mining, they use the explosives to fire the
0:08:35 > 0:08:40coal off the solid, and shoes shuffles to fill it into a conveyor,
0:08:40 > 0:08:46- shovels to fill it into the conveyor and it is brought to the
0:08:46 > 0:08:49surface on that, you can see it mind me.
0:08:49 > 0:08:55Thursday afternoon, and families and friend begin to gather in
0:08:55 > 0:08:59nearby Rhos Community Centre, anxious for news.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04By now, it is obvious the rescue operation won't be over quickly,
0:09:04 > 0:09:11and the eyes of the country, and the world, are on a small village
0:09:11 > 0:09:15in South Wales. My thoughts and prayers are with those who are at
0:09:15 > 0:09:19the moment trapped in the mine in the Swansea Valley, and indeed,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23with their families. The emergency services say, they are still
0:09:23 > 0:09:31hopeful of a positive outcome. There are numerous little tunnels,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34et cetera, old workings, which all potentially have air pockets in.
0:09:34 > 0:09:41They are experienced miners, they know the layout of the mine, they
0:09:41 > 0:09:45would know where to go in this sort of situation.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49We requested additional cave rescue team to go in, when we committed a
0:09:49 > 0:09:54cave and rescue team to go through the water, through zero visibility
0:09:54 > 0:10:01and debris, we also had a cave rescue team on standby to rescue
0:10:01 > 0:10:05the rescuer should they get into trouble.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Emergency teams believe they have located the miners now, trapped
0:10:10 > 0:10:1490ms underground, but there is still no communication with them.
0:10:14 > 0:10:21Prime Minister David Cameron says every support will be given to the
0:10:21 > 0:10:28emergency services. The families will spend two days waiting for
0:10:28 > 0:10:34news in the community centre. Superintendant Phil Davies has the
0:10:34 > 0:10:38job of keeping them informed. Extremely anxious, obviously very
0:10:39 > 0:10:42upset. I think that I was impressed with the way they conducted
0:10:42 > 0:10:46themselves in what was a very much pressure cooker situation, where
0:10:46 > 0:10:50they were just anxiously waiting for further news. I think, again,
0:10:50 > 0:10:56coming from mining communities, and mining families, they understood
0:10:56 > 0:10:59the dangers involved in mining, and certainly some of the men, who were
0:10:59 > 0:11:02at the community centre, had actually been down the mine, and
0:11:02 > 0:11:08had good knowledge of what the conditions were down the mine,
0:11:08 > 0:11:15which they were obviously relaying that to other family members.
0:11:15 > 0:11:21The missing men are named by police. Charles Bresnan, aged 62, David
0:11:21 > 0:11:27Powell who is 50, 45-year-old Phillip Hill and Garry Jenkins,
0:11:27 > 0:11:33aged 39. The rescue teams are working shifts,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36searching through the night, but there is concern about fatigue.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40There was a passion and determination, you also have to
0:11:40 > 0:11:44look at the safety. As people were getting more tired, we needed to
0:11:44 > 0:11:48make sure, and there was a specific discussion at Gold, were we happy
0:11:48 > 0:11:53that our resources weren't getting tired and would not be making
0:11:53 > 0:11:56mistakes. Deciding that safety wouldn't be
0:11:56 > 0:12:06compromised, officers allowed the rescue effort to continue
0:12:06 > 0:12:07
0:12:07 > 0:12:14throughout the night. Coal has been mined at the site of Gleision for
0:12:14 > 0:12:19more than a century, today it is owned by MNS Mining, run by Maria
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Seage, a business woman from Port Talbot, and Gerry Ward. The mine
0:12:25 > 0:12:30was previously owned by Coal Direct, that company went into liquidation
0:12:30 > 0:12:35in August last year. South Wales is peppered with small mines like
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Gleision, they open and close according to the price of coal.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46the price of energy rises, so the price of coal is following it up.
0:12:46 > 0:12:51And therefore, the proceeds that mine owners can get goes up. That
0:12:51 > 0:12:56makes it much more economical now to reopen mines and start new mines.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59The Coal Authority issued a license to Gleision, it said the owners had
0:12:59 > 0:13:02the necessary finance to run the mine. And the Health and Safety
0:13:03 > 0:13:12Executive said it inspected the mine last year, and said no
0:13:13 > 0:13:14
0:13:14 > 0:13:19enforcement action was necessary. Day two, 8.30am, the announcement
0:13:19 > 0:13:24everyone's been dreading. The news that everyone here feared, that one
0:13:24 > 0:13:28of those men trapped underground has been found, dead. Even worse
0:13:28 > 0:13:37than that, possibly, for those families that they don't know which
0:13:37 > 0:13:43of those men it is who has been found. It was cave divers who went
0:13:43 > 0:13:53in, up to the point as long as it was safe on the roof side of it.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55
0:13:55 > 0:14:02They went in, and they found one deceased. At just past midnight,
0:14:02 > 0:14:08the divers were at the site with the cover divers, the mines rescue
0:14:08 > 0:14:15had fed all their equipment in, and two divers went through and dived
0:14:15 > 0:14:23for about 30ms. They came into a bigger airspace. They then
0:14:23 > 0:14:26proceeded up the passageway, wading in silt and mud, but in air. Still
0:14:26 > 0:14:32wearing their gags, because they had been instructed that they must
0:14:32 > 0:14:36keep the gags in, in face of any foul air. So they are breathing
0:14:36 > 0:14:45oxygen through their masks. They were still breathing air through
0:14:45 > 0:14:50their masks. They then discovered the body of a miner. They searched
0:14:50 > 0:14:56the area they were in, where the first, or the body was found at the
0:14:56 > 0:15:00mine shaft. There was nothing to suggest that the team hadn't been
0:15:00 > 0:15:05split. So we hadn't found anyone else in that area, and trying to
0:15:05 > 0:15:09make their way up the shaft. To me that just suggested they had gone
0:15:09 > 0:15:13instead of running towards the main exit they ran uphill to where we
0:15:13 > 0:15:20found the air pockets. As far as I was concerned there was still three
0:15:20 > 0:15:27people alive to be found and it is still very much search and rescue.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30The discovery of the first miners' body is confirmed to the waiting
0:15:30 > 0:15:39media. Over night during the search and rescue operation which is on
0:15:39 > 0:15:43going, a miner has been found. He is deceased. We are not in a
0:15:43 > 0:15:51position to recover him from the mine, and therefore, we do not know
0:15:51 > 0:15:55the identity of that person. I felt desperately sorry for the
0:15:55 > 0:16:00families, I knew it was a waiting game to find out who that person
0:16:00 > 0:16:05was, and I knew it was going to be very difficult for them. But again,
0:16:05 > 0:16:13myself and the rest of the team, we never gave up hope that we might
0:16:13 > 0:16:18find somebody alive. Then, at lunchtime, more bad news.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23Unfortunately at 12.15 this afternoon, we located a second
0:16:23 > 0:16:29miner. I will reiterate the fact that this is still an on going
0:16:29 > 0:16:35search and rescue operation and all emergency services are fully
0:16:35 > 0:16:39committed to getting those miners out as soon as possible.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Water levels have dropped now, and rescue teams are making steady
0:16:43 > 0:16:47progress to remove debris. I spent enough time to establish the pumps
0:16:48 > 0:16:55were working very well. As I had been told, the water was receding.
0:16:55 > 0:17:01We penetrated further and further into the mine. Trying to recover,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04hopefully, we still held out hope there were survivors. But by mid-
0:17:04 > 0:17:11afternoon there is confirmation of a third body. Quickly after that
0:17:11 > 0:17:15press conference I was informed that they had found a third body.
0:17:15 > 0:17:23That was communicated to the press, to the families and then to the
0:17:23 > 0:17:27press. We had taken the opportunity that morning to go and speak to the
0:17:27 > 0:17:32families, and explain on the back of serviettes, or whatever was
0:17:32 > 0:17:36there, in the community room, to the families, exactly what we were
0:17:36 > 0:17:39doing, what areas of the mine we had searched and where we believed
0:17:39 > 0:17:45there still could be miners safe and sound in the mine. We were
0:17:45 > 0:17:50trying to get to those areas. We took personal responsibility to
0:17:50 > 0:17:56update the families ourselves of exactly what we were doing.
0:17:56 > 0:18:02If you had seen the colliers come out, mines' rescue workers, who had
0:18:02 > 0:18:09dug those men out. It was a sight to be seen. They have to be praised
0:18:09 > 0:18:14for it. True heros, in my mind. True heros. The Prime Minister's
0:18:14 > 0:18:18been kept informed of events as they have unfolded. It is obviously
0:18:18 > 0:18:23a desperately sad situation. And one can only imagine the anguish
0:18:23 > 0:18:27that those families are going through, and will go through.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Clearly the sorrow of losing loved ones. I spoke to the Gold Commander,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and it is clear the emergency serves have done everything they
0:18:34 > 0:18:37can, and worked incredibly hard, they haven't lacked for anything.
0:18:37 > 0:18:43It is obviously a desperately, desperately sad situation for
0:18:43 > 0:18:48everyone concerned. Any faint hopes of finding the last
0:18:48 > 0:18:54surviving miner alive now seem all but lost. Then, a press conference
0:18:54 > 0:18:58is called at 6.00pm. We have tried to bring this safely
0:18:58 > 0:19:05to its conclusion. Unfortunately, the conclusion that we have is the
0:19:05 > 0:19:11one that none of us want. We now move from a search and recovery
0:19:11 > 0:19:15operation, to one of investigation. This was the news that we all
0:19:15 > 0:19:23feared, we thought, in South Wales, that the days of mining accidents
0:19:23 > 0:19:27were behind us, but we were wrong. I want to express my sympathies for
0:19:27 > 0:19:31the families, sympathies on behalf of the people of Wales to the
0:19:31 > 0:19:34families of our of their own. I would also like to thank all those
0:19:34 > 0:19:40messages of support that have come from within Wales and outside our
0:19:40 > 0:19:43country, from around the world. I know that this accident has touched
0:19:43 > 0:19:47many hearts, both within Wales and without.
0:19:47 > 0:19:54The whole of the country had held its breath for two days, hoping the
0:19:54 > 0:19:59rescuers could bring the men home to their families. When we heard
0:19:59 > 0:20:04that the fourth person had been found, obviously all our hearts
0:20:04 > 0:20:09sank. All along in my eyes it was always a search and rescue
0:20:09 > 0:20:17operation. We kept driving ourselves forward, but then after
0:20:17 > 0:20:2336 hours on site, all my energy suddenly sank. I think I was ready
0:20:23 > 0:20:28for home. We brought them out, and we just
0:20:28 > 0:20:31wanted to get them back. We had the people down there, to be honest, we
0:20:31 > 0:20:35would have moved that mountain if we had to to get these people one
0:20:35 > 0:20:38way or another we would have got them back. I'm very proud of what
0:20:38 > 0:20:42the Mines Rescue Service did. I saw with my own eyes what they did, I
0:20:42 > 0:20:46can't praise them enough. And the other rescue services that were
0:20:46 > 0:20:49here. Nearly 36 hours since the world
0:20:49 > 0:20:56first learned of four trapped men, it was now reflecting on what they
0:20:56 > 0:21:05must have gone through. It is something that hits home very
0:21:05 > 0:21:15hard, when people working in difficult conditions unfortunately
0:21:15 > 0:21:17
0:21:17 > 0:21:22meet with an incident that occurred with such force. The ferocity that
0:21:22 > 0:21:32it did. It didn't give them a chance.
0:21:32 > 0:21:32
0:21:32 > 0:21:41The families are remarkable in their resolve. But it has been
0:21:41 > 0:21:51devastating too. Very, very sad. Real gents, good
0:21:51 > 0:21:56
0:21:56 > 0:22:01hard working men. Lived for their families, and tremendous guys.
0:22:01 > 0:22:11The next day, and the mens' family, friends and the community they
0:22:11 > 0:22:13
0:22:13 > 0:22:22lived in, begin to pay their respects. Among them, a poignant
0:22:22 > 0:22:29tribute from Phillip Hill's daughter, Kyla.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32The wider community remembers too. It is many years since a Welsh
0:22:32 > 0:22:35valley has had to endure the tragedy of a mining accident,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38whilst the family and local people grieve, the emergency services have
0:22:38 > 0:22:44to turn their thoughts to an investigation.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47This site has become a crime scene. I use that in a technical sense of
0:22:47 > 0:22:50the world, not to be dramatic. It is under the control of the police.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55We are now helping the police. I have been appointed to lead the
0:22:55 > 0:23:00investigation. And I'm working with my counterpart in the police.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04The police will investigate to see if a crime has been committed. The
0:23:04 > 0:23:08mines' inspectorate will determine if there have been any breaches of
0:23:08 > 0:23:13health and safety. Without speculating, we know that certain
0:23:13 > 0:23:18things have to be done, including a plan, when you are working in old
0:23:18 > 0:23:22workings, is that right? Plans must be kept for many different purses.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Every mine must maintain their plans for the mine workings,
0:23:26 > 0:23:32generally for things like Mines Rescue Service and up-to-date
0:23:32 > 0:23:38emergency plans. Every mine must have an accurate plan. Including
0:23:38 > 0:23:42one to do with the inrush of water risk, to do with old workings?
0:23:42 > 0:23:47mine plans must show relevant information on them. And plans that
0:23:47 > 0:23:51show potentially flooded areas, and where current workings are, they
0:23:51 > 0:23:56are absolutely crucial. Anything you can say so far on that?
0:23:56 > 0:24:01know we have just started that, we are drawing our team together, we
0:24:01 > 0:24:07know that something has gone wrong. Of that we are absolutely sure. It
0:24:07 > 0:24:10would be improper for me to speculate at the moment. Obviously,
0:24:10 > 0:24:15we're going to do this investigation properly, everybody
0:24:15 > 0:24:24expects that from us, and I can assure everyone that we will get to
0:24:24 > 0:24:34the bottom of this situation. Church services across Wales are
0:24:34 > 0:24:39rembering the four miners killed in the colliery in the Swansea Valley.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44A makeshift memorial to the men appears in Portal, and Prince
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Charles agrees to be patron of an appeal fund setp for their families.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53Saying he was deeply - set up for their families. Saying he was
0:24:53 > 0:25:01deeply sand by events. He also sent a private message to them. The four
0:25:01 > 0:25:06miners are also remembered on the opposite side of the globe.
0:25:06 > 0:25:13The Welsh team, wearing black armbands as a mark of respect,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17dedicate their win against Samoa to the miners' families.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22The community will continue to grieve, but already there are calls
0:25:22 > 0:25:25for politicians to examine regulations and the safety of small
0:25:25 > 0:25:31mines. I think the Welsh Government, the Welsh Assembly should be
0:25:31 > 0:25:36looking at this as well, to recommend to the Health and Safety
0:25:36 > 0:25:41Executive, is it not feasible to actually dewater some of these
0:25:41 > 0:25:51areas, to ensure you have got areas of coal which actually could be
0:25:51 > 0:25:52
0:25:52 > 0:25:58safer worked than they are now. Last night in Pontardawe, hundreds
0:25:58 > 0:26:02gathered to pay their respects at a candlelit vigil.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05The mine's owners say they have been too upset to talk publicly,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08but released a statement saying they were devastated by the
0:26:09 > 0:26:18accident, and their thoughts were with the miners' families and
0:26:19 > 0:26:19
0:26:19 > 0:26:27frebdz. - friends. The police focus now is to determine if the incident
0:26:27 > 0:26:31is a criminal matter. The focus is on the investigation
0:26:31 > 0:26:37to identify with fact the answers to the questions that the families
0:26:37 > 0:26:41will have. As far as I'm concerned, with HSE, we will carry out a
0:26:41 > 0:26:47thorough investigation to determine fact rather than speculation, that
0:26:47 > 0:26:53may take us some time, but that's where I'm coming from.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Today, the families of the four men issued their own tributes. Garry
0:26:57 > 0:27:02Jenkins family said he lived life to the full and was always happy
0:27:02 > 0:27:07and hard working. Charles Bresnan had recently celebrated 40 years of
0:27:07 > 0:27:11marriage, and had been a coal miner most of his working life. Phillip
0:27:11 > 0:27:17Hill's family say he endured a lot of tragedy recently, and wished to
0:27:17 > 0:27:25thank the rescue services. And David Powell was his family's
0:27:25 > 0:27:29life and soul, bringing joy and fun to everyone he met.