Biography

Known as Peter.

Peter Bendotti died of asphyxiation from carbon monoxide gases which had accumulated in the shaft from the previous night's firing.  His mate and fellow countryman, Andrea Fasanini, died trying to rescue him.

The accident happened when Pietro Bendotti and Fasanini, two machine miners, descended a winze to begin the morning shift. Bendotti was overcome by fumes which had collected in the shaft and Fasanini hastened to secure assistance. With Nicoletti and Ernest Camp he returned to the winze and the three of them tried to drag Bendotti 120 feet up the steep incline to safety. When Fasanini showed signs of being affected by the gases, Camp went for help. Nicoletti, supporting both men, tried to drag their combined weight up by a rope, but he too became affected by the gases and was forced to let them go. Nicoletti lost consciousness just as he saw assistance coming. Nicoletti recovered from the effects of the poisonous fumes, but both Bendotti and Fasanini were dead when brought to the surface. At the inquest held in Leonora on Friday 13 July, the Jury added the following to its verdict of accidental death:

"From the evidence given we ask that the names of Nicoletti, Camp and Fasanini be forwarded to the proper authorities, recognition of their bravery in a most trying and critical moment, and also that the court's deep appreciation of the conduct of all others concerned in the rescue be recorded."

West Australian Dec 1935, page 19: MINERS' BRAVERY - Recognition by King of Italy. It was announced yesterday by the Vice-Consul for Italy (Signor N. Costantino) that the King of Italy bad awarded the silver medal for bravery to Mr.Giovanni Nicoletti, of Gwalia, and posthumously to the late Mr. Andrea Fasanini, in recognition of their heroism in attempting to rescue a countryman who had been overcome by fumes in a winze at the Sons of Gwalia mine, Gwalia, on June 26. 1934.