THE victim of a tragic underground accident at the National Coal Mining Museum has been named as Michael Buckingham from Grimethorpe, Barnsley.

The 58-year-old died while working on new shafts at the popular museum.

An inquest into his death will open in Wakefield today.

It is expected to be a brief hearing and will then be adjourned in order for full inquiries into the tragedy to be carried out.

The 58-year-old man is thought to have been crushed by heavy equipment deep below ground at the former pit between Grange Moor and Middlestown.

Museum officials have closed underground sections of the site but facilities above the surface are all now open after Tuesday’s tragedy.

The investigation into the man’s death is being handled by the Health and Safety Executive.