Elderly couple dies 90 minutes apart

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The last survivor of the worst mine disaster in Ohio history died within 90 minutes of his wife in the same hospital room, hospital officials said.

Sigmund Kozma was 97 and his wife, Virginia, 88, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Both died Saturday.

Kozma was hospitalized last week after a fall that fractured his neck. Virginia had been at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus for several days after she had fallen.

Virginia Kozma died of heart failure after her husband suffered a fatal heart attack.

At 16, Kozma was one of 19 survivors of an explosion at the Millfield Mine in Athens County. The blast killed 82 people, including top executives of the Sunday Creek Coal Co. who were inspecting safety equipment.

Kozma and the other survivors were found in an area of the mine about 3 miles from the main shaft.