Tas: Miners alive and apparently unharmed

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2006
Tas: Miners alive and apparently unharmed

By Jane Bunce

BEACONSFIELD, Tas, April 30 AAP - Two miners found alive after five days trapped underground
in a Tasmanian mine are apparently unharmed, protected by the cage of a cherry picker.

Miners Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, were located just before 7pm (AEST) today
after a rock fall on Tuesday night at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine near Launceston.

Their workmate, 44-year-old Larry Knight, was killed in the accident, caused by an
earthquake. His body was retrieved on Thursday.

Beaconsfield Gold Mine management tonight briefed the families of Mr Russell and Mr Webb.

It is believed the men were protected from the rockfall by a cherry picker cage.

"They've heard them speaking," Mr Webb's mother-in-law Julie Kelly told reporters.

"There was a big slab of rock over their cage, so they are unhurt.

"They are saying how they are not hurt was because there was nothing (no rocks) in the cage."

Mrs Kelly said management had told them they could hear the miners but not clearly.

"They are all right," she said.

"Obviously they will be dehydrated and everything, but they are just wanting them to hurry up."

Mr Webb's father-in-law Michael Kelly said the rescue effort was entering its most crucial phase.

"You can imagine if you're in a little pocket for five days, you would be fairly cramped
and not feeling too good," he said.

"And they've got to get them out safely."

Mr Kelly said he did not know how far into the mine the tunnels reached or when the
miners would be rescued.

"It could be tomorrow night, it could be tomorrow afternoon, but they'll keep us informed,"

he said.

Mr Kelly said management were trying to send better audio equipment into the mine to
learn more about the miners situation.

Police Inspector Paul Reynolds said mine management was considering the best way to
rescue the men.

"They are looking at how they, as safe as possible, can get to the two miners," he said.

"Our big priority here is not to do anything that may jeopardise the safety of either
of the two miners."

Inspector Reynolds said he had not been given a timeline for the pair's rescue.

AAP jb/jlw/tnf/sd

KEYWORD: MINE UNHARMED

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