The Mining Festival Mascot Experienced Difficult Moments but Still Loves the Mine

KARVINÁ – “Eyes which have not cried do not see”. One of those who can more than agree with this saying is the forty year old anti-dust technician from the “Jih” site of the ČSM Mine at Stonava, Josef Szamaránszký. On Saturday, 4th of September, wearing his mining clothes, helmet with a head light and face blacked with coal dust, he helped at the stand run by the Civic Association of St. Barbara where Zdeňka and Ivona were selling cakes donated through the charitable cake competition.

He became a true mascot of the OKD Mining Festival. Nearly everybody noticed him and everybody wished to talk to him and take a picture with him. And very often these people also bought a delicious cake to support the children who lost their fathers in mines.

„I thought that people do not see a miner in his clothes with a dirty face so often. And of course I wanted to support St. Barbara, the work of which I greatly respect and appreciate.  It is really wonderful,“ said Szamaránszký whose father, also called Josef, was one of 30 miners who died on 18^th October 1990 at the Barbora Mine during the last big mine accident in the Ostrava-Karviná district. His son already worked in the site preparation at Barbora Mine but on another shift.  Josef senior started his afternoon shift, Josef junior was supposed to come for the night shift...

„My brothers were twelve and thirteen at that time, my half sister two and a half. I was the oldest and I already worked. But believe me, even for me it was not easy to cope with the loss. This is not only about money. Someone who was with you all the time, ready to help you whenever you need, to give you advice and supports you is suddenly gone. It is difficult to talk about it...This is the reason why I appreciate so much what the St. Barbara Association is doing,“ explained Josef Szamaránszký.

Sad memories after the father´s tragic death were behind his decision to leave the Barbora Mine but he never has left the mining profession. He moved to the ČSM Mine and continued his work underground. Later he completed his studies at the professional training school and graduated from the Mining University at Ostrava. He started a family and by coincidence his son Jan started working at ČSM Mine on 1^st June this year.

„I have never influenced Jan´s decision, it was his own. He started working as an electrician in the mine and he is very happy with his job. He received his first wage, his eyes were sparkling and he would never leave his profession. So he is the third generation of miners in our family,“ smiles Josef Szamaránszký.

(Bohuslav Krzyžanek)