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Toronto,
ON - Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX and NYSE Amex: AVL)
("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to report on
the status of its three staff members and four visitors who were injured
in the crash of the Arctic Sunwest Twin Otter floatplane in Yellowknife last week.
All three staff members have now been discharged from hospital and are
recovering from their relatively minor injuries. All are expected to be
on intermittent or light duty for periods ranging from 1-4 weeks.
Otherwise, Avalon's business operations are now returning to normal.
Two of the four passengers who were visitors to
the site have also been discharged from hospital after receiving
treatment for minor injuries and have returned home. The two other
visitors are still hospitalized recovering from surgery to repair more
serious injuries, but are expected to be able to return home in the near
future.
Don Bubar, President
and CEO said, "I am thankful and relieved that the injuries suffered
were not a lot more serious and that our employees are well on their way
to making a full recovery. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to
the many Yellowknife residents who rushed to assist the injured at the
accident scene. Their quick response and unselfish actions helped prevent
a bad situation from getting worse."
Company representatives attended a memorial
service held on Sunday night in Yellowknife for the two deceased pilots,
Trevor Jonasson and Nicole Stacey. At the
service, the following message from the Company was read to the
attendees: "For the family and friends of Trevor and Nicole, the
management, staff and Board of Avalon Rare Metals Inc. would like to pass
along their deepest condolences for this untimely and tragic loss of
life. In those final moments before the crash, we know that both
Trevor and Nicole took whatever actions they could to save the lives of
all on board and for this we will be forever grateful to them.
Please know that our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you during
this extremely difficult time."
The charter aircraft was flying back from
Avalon's Thor Lake exploration camp when it crashed into Yellowknife's
Old Town neighbourhood. The three company
employees - Brian Chandler, Chief Operating Officer, David Swisher,
Vice-President Operations, and Kelly Cumming, Northern Relations Manager
- and four visitors were returning from a tour of Avalon's Nechalacho Rare Earth Deposit, approximately 100 kilometres east of Yellowknife.
The cause of the crash is presently under
investigation by the Transportation Safety Board ("TSB"). The
Company is providing its full co-operation with the TSB's investigation.
About Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX
and NYSE-Amex: AVL)
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration
and development company focused on rare metals deposits in Canada. Its
flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho
Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped
rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in
the more valuable 'heavy' rare earth elements, which are key to enabling
advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech
applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical
elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply.
Avalon is well funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing
steadily. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate
cornerstones. Avalon's performance on community engagement in the north
earned it the 2010 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.
General corporate information can be found at www.avalonraremetals.com. Media inquiries should be directed
to Don Bubar, President & CEO at
416-364-4938.
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