Pike River Mine Hardhat

Origins
The Pike River Mine Disaster happened November 19, 2010 in a New Zealand coal mine. A methane explosion trapped 29 miners and contractors underground. Three more explosions spread out in the following week afterwards stopped any attempt to try and rescue the workers. Many believed the explosions killed them and the New Zealand government has not yet made a solid attempt to recover the bodies. It is one of the country’s worst disasters in its history in terms of lives lost.

Effects
Creates the sensation of being buried beneath tons of rock and debris without doing any physical damage. Some people have reported collapsing onto the ground and painfully howling at what they ‘felt’ was the experience of being buried alive. The helmet also sends out signals of fear so strong into their brain and nervous system that they are momentarily paralyzed, being unable to move their arms and legs.