The image of a lone miner lying face down in rubble inside New Zealand's collapsed Pike River coalmine has sparked a resurgence of angry questions from families over the handling of the disaster.
The discovery of the body and the revelation that the mine's firefighting box had been opened has "ripped open wounds" for the families and friends of the 29 men, including two Australians, who were killed in the explosions on November 19 last year.
It appears to contradict the findings of a January inquest which ruled that all the miners died in the first of a series of methane blasts at the South Island underground mine.
Bernie Monk, spokesman for the miners' families, said loved ones were shocked and saddened by the news.
"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'," Mr Monk told AAP on Thursday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
He confirmed he had contacted the families of the two Queensland victims, Willie Joynson, 49, and Josh Ufer, 25, late on Wednesday to inform them of developments.
"They were terribly saddened, as you could imagine," said Mr Monk, who lost his son Michael in the tragedy.
"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."
New Zealand's Assistant Police Commissioner Grant Nicholls said footage taken down a borehole in February looked "highly suspiciously" like a fully-clothed human body.
"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," said Mr Nicholls, who confirmed camera technology was being imported from the United States to verify the discovery.
It was also revealed to the miners' families that an equipment box containing a fire extinguisher had been opened in the mine.
PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has been responsible for the mining company since it went into receivership, has confirmed its approach will not change in light of the discovery.
It says the mine is still too unsafe to enter.
But local mayor Tony Kokshoorn said the development made him "absolutely furious" that receivers were refusing to recover the bodies.
"After more than five months they have not even entered 10 metres into the mine. I've been telling the receivers for the last few weeks to get in or get out," Mr Kokshoorn said.
"There's been enough talking about this. Now we've got the proof it's time to stop analysing this and that and get in there."
Mr Monk seconded the mayor's call, saying "the families deserve it".
"It's cruel to leave us hanging like this," he said.
New Zealand's Police Minister Judith Collins said the discovery would be looked at by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.
However, it was revealed on Thursday that the highly anticipated hearings, due to get underway on May 24, have been delayed until July 11.
The extra time for preparation was designed to help it run more efficiently, the commission said.
Set down for six months, the inquiry will investigate every aspect of the tragedy including New Zealand mine regulation and geography; the formation and management of the Pike River mine; the explosions and the rescue efforts that followed.
