Tragedy struck on March 21, 1973, when miners working on coalseamknown as the Flockton Drift at Lofthouse Colliery unexpectedly hit an old tunnel and the water surged in.
The men who died were Edward Finnegan, 40, of Kirkhamgate, William Armitage, 41, of Eastmoor, Alan Haigh, 30, of Outwood, Sydney St Clair Brown, 36, of Leeds, Colin Barnaby, 36, of East Ardsley, Charles Cotton, 49, of Leeds and Frank Billingham, 48, of Flanshaw.
Events were held in Lofthouse and Outwood over the weekend to mark the occasion.
Pictures by Paul Medlock.
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Around 30 miners had been excavating a coalface near to an abandoned and flooded 19th century mineshaft. Photo: sub
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They were working on a coalseam known as the Flockton Drift when they unexpectedly hit an old tunnel and the water surged in. Photo: sub
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Around 200 people were involved in the events on the Saturday Photo: sub