TIMELINE

9:20am THURSDAY South Wales Police officers, along with fire and ambulance crews, are called to the colliery after four people were trapped. Seven people were initially in the mine, but three of them got out, with one taken to hospital. The families of the trapped men gather at Rhos community centre, where they are kept informed.

3pm Superintendent Phil Davies says emergency services are conducting a “difficult rescue operation”.

4:30pm First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones delivers a statement saying “my thoughts and prayers – and those of the people of Wales – are with the trapped men and their families”.

5pm It emerges that the miner who was taken to hospital is in a critical condition. Supt Davies says water is ingressing into the mine.

6:20pm Chris Margetts of South Wales Fire Service says he is “very hopeful and optimistic” that the four miners can be rescued.

7:45pm Prime Minister David Cameron says “every support” will be given to emergency services adding that his “thoughts are with those missing and their family and friends”.

9:30pm The missing miners are named as Phillip Hill, 45, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, and Garry Jenkins, 39.

4am FRIDAY Rescuers say divers have been forced to return above ground and abandon their efforts about 30 metres into the mine.

8:30am Police say the body of a miner has been located but has yet to be identified. All the families are told.

1:30pm Police say a second body has been found and that the first has been recovered. It is confirmed water levels have dropped inside the mine, and rescue crews are “slowly and steadily” removing debris.

3:10pm A third body is found.

6:10pm The body of the fourth miner is discovered.