REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday May 1, 2006

TWO miners trapped in a collapsed mine 1km underground for almost a week were found alive.

Todd Russell, 34, and Brant Webb, 37, were captured on thermal imaging cameras as they huddled in the collapsed shaft of the gold mine in Beaconsfield in Tasmania’s northeast.

Rescuers worked frantically throughout the night, desperately trying to reach the men who were apparently cramped but unharmed.

Just before midnight, rescuers said they still had to get through about 12m of rock and it was unknown how long it would take them to reach the miners.

Mr Russell and Mr Webb were apparently protected by the cage of a cherrypicker when an earth tremor caused a massive rockfall into the main shaft on Tuesday night, trapping them underground.

The body of another miner, Larry Knight, 44, was recovered, leaving little hope the other two men would be found alive.

But just after 7.30pm, the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company formally announced that Mr Russell and Mr Webb had been located.

”A short time ago rescuers at the Beaconsfield Mine believe they have located the two miners missing since last Tuesday night,” said a spokesman.

“Indications are that the two men are still alive.

“The two miners are believed to be in the area where they were last seen.’’

News of the miracle spread quickly through the small town of 1000 near Launceston and locals rushed to the mine site.