The families of two Scots who died in the New Zealand mine explosions are facing a three-month wait to find out if the bodies of their loved ones can be recovered.
Malcolm Campbell (25), who lived just outside St Andrews, and 40-year-old Pete Rodger from Perth, died along with 27 others following a series of explosions at the Pike River coal mine last month.
Mr Campbell’s parents Malcolm and Jane have returned to Scotland from New Zealand and are planning a remembrance service for their son on January 28, the day that would have been his 26th birthday.
“We got back on the Monday before Christmas but we are still waiting to find out what will happen,” said Mr Campbell.
“We are still in contact with the mine every day and they think it could be another three months before we get his body back, if at all.
“In our hearts we know we’ll probably have to go back over to New Zealand but we really want to do something to give closure to people at home and we want to do it for his birthday.”
The remembrance service has provisionally been arranged to take place at St Leonard’s Church in St Andrews on January 28.
Mr Campbell added that the family is still struggling to come to terms with their loss.
“It has been pretty horrendous, but we have had a lot of support around us,” he said.