An unearthed body of a miner clad in uniform with in the crumpled Pike River mine gained fuming calls to “get our boys out” in New Zealand.

This scene along with the news that the mine’s firefighting box had been opened serves as a clue that the miners may have survived the first explosion of the methane blast series on November 19. Among the 29 fatalities of the explosion are two Australian nationals.

Bernie Monk, spokesman for the families told AAP, "Hearing that has made us think `maybe there was hope, maybe we should have forced them somehow to get in there earlier and try to save them'.”

Monk got in touch with the families of the two Queensland victims named Willie Joynson and Josh Ufer, to share the news. Joynson is 49 while Ufer is 25.

Monk, who lost his son Michael in the South Island catastrophe, said "They were terribly saddened, as you could imagine. They were very grateful for the update and to be involved, but it's ripped open the wounds really, and made them rethink what could have been."

The scene of the miner in full uniform was confirmed by a senior forensic pathologist through a video image taken in February where in a man who looked like a fully-clothed person lying face down in the mine appeared.

According to the police, video images also depict that the firefighting box had been opened. These appear to oppose the findings at a January examination that all the men died in the first blast.

Grant Nicholls, New Zealand's Assistant Commissioner, emphasized that the footage is unclear and more detailed camera equipment imported from the US was needed to authenticate the discovery.

Nicholls accounted, "It is important to note that the images we currently have are not that clear. More refinement and interpretation of what currently appears to be a body is needed."

The local mayor, Tony Kokshoorn, believes that all families and residents deserve to see that all the men should be brought out.
Monk seconded the mayor's call, saying "the families deserve it".