The miner who lost his life in the Beaconsfield mine disaster in Northern Tasmania in 2006 was operating a telehandler when the rockfall occurred, killing him instantly and trapping his two colleagues for a fortnight.

According to a report by The Age, Larry Knight, 44, of Launceston, died instantly at the controls of a telehandler machine holding aloft workmates Todd Russell and Brant Webb in a cage.

Russell and Webb survived in the crushed cage, under tonnes of rock, for 14 days in a rescue led by the mine management that drew global attention.

The miner's family has expressed disappointment that the mine will not be represented at much of the coronial inquest, which began this week.