The Pike River Recovery Agency reached the roof fall 2.26km up the drift access tunnel. Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton died in the mine disaster, said the end of the drift recovery process had left her with mixed emotions. “I’m incredibly proud that we have got this far and so thankful that the people of New Zealand have backed us getting this done and gathering the evidence that is crucial to getting justice for our boys. “But it’s also hard to know that this is as far as we will go and that Milt is still in there. I think every family member will be feeling that same mixture of pride and sadness,” she said.