( CNN ) -- The body of an Idaho miner trapped when the roof of the mine he was working in collapsed nine days ago was recovered Sunday afternoon , the company that owns and operates the mine said . `` Words can not express the deep sorrow we feel at the tragic loss of our friend , colleague and 30-year veteran of the mining industry . Our thoughts and prayers are with his family , loved ones and friends , '' Hecla Mining Company said in a statement announcing that the body of Larry Marek had been recovered . Earlier Sunday , the company had said it believed that Marek , a Hecla employee for more than 12 years , was dead . Rescue workers had been digging through rocky earth more than 6,000 feet underground in an attempt to reach Marek , 53 , following the April 15 collapse at the silver and mineral mine outside Mullan , Idaho . Marek was one of two men working in that part of the Lucky Friday mine when a 10-foot by 20-foot section of mostly rock fell on him , said Hecla 's President and CEO Phil Baker . This all occurred roughly 6,150 feet below the Earth 's surface . While the other man -- who has not been identified -- got out unharmed , there was no contact from Marek . Baker said earlier the cause of the collapse had not been determined , promising an investigation `` after the rescue efforts are complete . '' Numerous special bolts and chain-link fence are used to keep the ground above the affected mine in place . Marek was trapped in a part of the mine where ore is removed and far from either of two possible exits , neither of which was adversely affected by the collapse , according to Baker . Lucky Friday is a `` deep underground silver , lead and zinc mine , '' according to Hecla 's website . It has been in operation since 1942 . Hecla has 275 of its employees routinely working at the mine , in addition to about 100 contractors , according to a company statement . Its website describes the Coeur d'Alene-based company , founded in 1891 , as the `` largest and lowest-cost silver producer '' in the United States .
Larry Marek , 53 , was trapped when the roof of the mine collapsed . He died from his injuries a week later on July 29 at a hospital in nearby Minsk. The cause of the collapse has not been determined .