Setbacks in Coober Pedy mine search
South Australia Police have suffered setbacks in their search for the remains of Karen Williams who vanished in Coober Pedy 23 years ago.
They have been using mining equipment called a blower to speed up the dig.
It is effectively a giant vacuum cleaner that sucks dirt up out of the mine shaft.
But this morning, it kept breaking down after getting clogged with plastic bags, hampering the search for Karen Williams’ remains.
Detectives allowed 7News to lower a camera into the shaft where State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers are digging.
They work in hot, cramped conditions, 18 metres below ground.
“It is very restrictive work, but if it is compacted ground, it’s very, very hard, physical work,” Andy Shiels from the SES said.
One of Karen’s cousins came to the dig. She believes police are searching in the wrong place.
But detectives are confident they are looking in the right place and are determined to do whatever it takes to solve the murder mystery.
“You can never be 100 per cent certain, obviously until you find a person, but I genuinely believe we’ve got the best chance of finding Karen as this location,” Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.
This afternoon, crews reached the bottom of the first shaft, then started clearing out a second.
Police have suspended the search over the weekend to give SES volunteers a break, and will resume work on Monday.
There are four shafts on the property in question, and police said crews will be there as long as it takes.
