T1B

Trapped miners walk to freedom


May 09, 2006
TASMANIAN miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb have emerged from the Beaconsfield mine.

They clocked out, then walked straight into the arms of their families to the cheers of waiting crowds today.

The pair walked out at 5.59am (AEST), about an hour after rescuers pulled them from their underground prison.

Crowds cheered and sirens wailed as the men smiled, then a scrum of family, rescuers and workmates suurounded them.

In fluoro jackets and with miners hardhats, headlights shining, the men walked freely among the crowd inside the mine site compound.




They shook hands, waved to people and gave thanks.

Mr Russell and Mr Webb then entered separate ambulances at 6.05am (AEST), still smiling and waving, for the 40 minute journey to Launceston Hospital. Their children jumped into the vehicles to hug their fathers.

Then, as the ambulances left the site, followed by minivans carrying their families, the convoy was cheered by crowds of people who formed an honour guard.

Todd Russell's brother-in-law Allan Bennett was at the top of the mine to greet his relative and friend.

"It's what dreams are made of, mate," he later said.

"I said 'a miracle' to start with, that's all I could think of, and 'it's what dreams are made of'.

Mr Bennett said he would attend the funeral in Launceston today of Larry Knight, 44, who died in the mine rockfall that first trapped the men.

"Don't forget Larry and the other 14 men (who escaped the April 25 rockfall)," he said.

"They're all one, that's how it works," a crying Mr Bennett said.

Another teary onlooker, Diane Alexander, said: "The elation is unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.

"The whole spirit of this community is tremendous."

Local Vivienne King, a Salvation Army volunteer, said the freed miners looked "really, really" good, considering their long confinement.

"It's amazing. It's just a miracle, an absolute miracle.

"It's hard to believe two weeks have passed.

The pair may only spend an hour in hospital before being allowed home.

"They will come in and they will be assessed in the emergency department," Launceston Hospital chief executive Stephen Ayre said on Channel 7.

"They are in very good physical shape (and) we believe they will only be here a minimal amount of time."

News of the rescue success came about 5am (AEST).

"Both Brant and Todd are out of the tunnel and well," mine manager Matthew Gill said.

Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorten said: "Today we've had unbelievable news. After 14 nights at 4.47am, Brant Webb and 4.54am Todd Russell, were freed.

"This is an amazing day, the rescuers have done a fantastic job. The families have been fantastic. And clearly these two men have been outstanding Australians. It's a great day."

A bell at Beaconsfield's Uniting Church pealed in celebration as the news broke, and residents started to make their way to the mine site.

Meanwhile, the two miners were given a full medical check underground.

Mine management spokesman Michael Lester said: "Both of them have been reported to be in very good health considering where they are."

Tasmania's Deputy Premier Bryan Green said the men had been assessed at a category three health level. Category four is normal health.

"With respect to their physical health, I don't think too long at all (before they are back to normal) but I think they'll have to work through a number of emotions as a result of their rescue," he said.

One of Mr Russell's mates, Gavin Purcell, said his head was "just spinning at the moment".

"I can't wait for the boys to get out. It's been a long time.

"I'll be speechless when I see him (Todd). I'll probably be full of tears," the tug boat worker said.

Mr Russell and Mr Webb had been trapped almost 1km underground at Tasmania's Beaconsfield Gold Mine since a rockfall triggered by an earth tremor on April 25.

They were found alive on April 30 and rescuers have been slowly and painstakingly tunnelling towards them ever since.

Last night marked their 14th night trapped in a work cage.

Their workmate Larry Knight was killed in the rockfall. His funeral will be held in Launceston this afternoon.

West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther said it was a time of mixed emotion for the community because of Mr Knight's funeral.

"It's a sad but exciting time to have these two lads brought back to surface, dream come true.

"It's an amazing thing was that they're in such good health.

"How they've held it together all this time I don't know.

"Rescue workers working in such confined spaces were a magnificent group of people.

"It brought home just how close-knit the mining community are," Mr Easther said.

missjo wrote:{A}fter... 2weeks.... They clocked out...

chargerfan wrote:2 weeks stuck down there. I'm no mathematician but that's gotta be shitload of overtime.

rack all miners !!

Sudden Sam wrote:

BSmack wrote:You've got to be a dumb motherfucker to crawl down in a mine. Let a fucking CEO go down there. Maybe then the mines will be safe.

Yeah, right. And rich folks' and politicians' kids are gonna see action in the military.

mvscal wrote:

BSmack wrote:You've got to be a dumb motherfucker to crawl down in a mine. Let a fucking CEO go down there. Maybe then the mines will be safe.

Working in a mine is never going to be safe, you retarded braindead fuck.

mvscal wrote:Fortunately not everyone is as much of a sniveling pussy as you are.

WhatsMyName wrote:BSmack, what do you do for a living that is so much better?

BSmack wrote:

mvscal wrote:Fortunately not everyone is as much of a sniveling pussy as you are.

Yea, working in shitty conditions for 1/10 or less of what your bosses get paid makes you a "real man".

Some Damn Retard wrote:It's called making decisions. Life is never easy, nor fair. These guys are doing what they have to do to provide for themselves and their families. They're not whining about being handed health insurance from the government, they are earning it. If someone isn't willing to earn their benefits, they do not deserve to have it paid for by those that are.

PSUFAN wrote:Many miners in this country are perfectly happy in their jobs, perfectly happy with where they live, and the life they are providing for their families. Everyone here - yes, even a systems engineer in Rochester, NY - better throw them a rack when they flip a light switch or plug in a computer.

BSmack wrote:
Yea, working in shitty conditions for 1/10 or less of what your bosses get paid makes you a "real man".

PSUFAN wrote:Many miners in this country are perfectly happy in their jobs, perfectly happy with where they live, and the life they are providing for their families.

Everyone here - yes, even a systems engineer in Rochester, NY - better throw them a rack when they flip a light switch or plug in a computer.

m2 wrote:BSmack,

How do you have the gall to attack someone for what they do for a living?

From where I sit... it seems that your job isn't very challenging or fulfilling(unless you feel...posting on a message board all day is).

BSmack wrote:If I were them I would have said to hell with it a long time ago and found something more profitable.

m2 wrote:

BSmack wrote:If I were them I would have said to hell with it a long time ago and found something more profitable.

Well, I guess you're better than them.

As a person... that would be questionable.

BSmack wrote: smaller than even the average US hosehold

I seriously fucking doubt it. Cave ins, black lung and explosions are no way to go through life.

PSUFAN wrote:Yes, mining is dangerous, but not nearly as much as it once was. Sure, there are some well-publicized accidents, but considering the fact that mining is happening 24-7-365, the accidents aren't numerous.

WhatsMyName wrote: Just sayin'.

WhatsMyName wrote:The average miner doesn't make what the average American makes, in fact it's closer to double. Just sayin'.

WhatsMyName wrote:The average miner doesn't make what the average American makes, in fact it's closer to double. Just sayin'.

For example, the average continuous mining machine operator in West Virginia earns $38,370 per year, according to November 2004 information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's a higher average annual salary than what a similar worker would earn in any of West Virginia's neighboring states, which pay between $29,000 in Pennsylvania to $36,060 in Kentucky. The average pay in West Virginia is also higher than the national average of $36,210 per year.
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But not all sectors of the energy market pay so much more in West Virginia than elsewhere. For example, the average annual income for a mining engineer in West Virginia is $59,600. That's lower than the national average of $66,140, and lower than the $70,760 that the average mining engineer earns in Virginia. But the Mountain State's wages are slightly higher than what a person working a similar job in North Carolina would earn.

And regardless of state, the average explosive worker earns between $33,230 and $41,160 per year. In West Virginia, the average salary for that job is $37,880.

http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?f ... oryid=7516

BSmack wrote:

m2 wrote:

BSmack wrote:If I were them I would have said to hell with it a long time ago and found something more profitable.

Well, I guess you're better than them.

As a person... that would be questionable.

I'm sure their children will feel much better knowing their daddy died young so that we could have coal. What a moral thing to do.

mvscal wrote:So what's the problem?

PSUFAN wrote:What a completely senseless take. Said children like taking cold milk out of the fridge, don't they? Electric light has been a real boon for their education, correct? Perhaps the powering of all of their appliances, their food, and their illumination is regarded as dispensable?

Is there an occupation that benefits everyday life more visibly than mining?

mvscal wrote:

PSUFAN wrote:Is there an occupation that benefits everyday life more visibly than mining?

Oil production and refining?