General Chat

After spending 14 nights underground trapped by a mine collapse, which was caused by seismic activity in the area, Todd Russell and Brant Webb have been safely rescued today. They are still in the tunnel but in the safe area, paramedics have gone done to check on the men, family have also been taken to the men, it is believed they are well enough to walk out of the mine. The mine disaster started on Tuesday 25th April when seismic activity in the area of the mine causing the Beaconsfield mine to collapse. 17 men were in the mine at the time 14 made it out safely. On Thursday 27th the rescuers found the body of Larry Knight who will be buried today Tuesday 9th May. On Sunday 30th April they located the two missing miners alive, well but trapped in a steel cage surrounded by fallen rocks. It has taken over a week to dig an escape tunnel to safely rescue the 2 miners. Through all of this Todd and Brant always kept their great sense of humour and didn’t let their cramped damps conditions get them down. They are definitely two brave men, and the people working to get them out are real heroes, putting their own lives on the line to rescue their workmates. Unfortunately one of the bad things to come out of this is a well known Australian Journalist died on Sunday from a heart problem, he passed away doing what he loved. Thankyou one and all for your prayers and positive thoughts.

Oh thank the lord they are safe!! Prayers for the family of the man who lost his life! xx

Pink loving Chelsea Thankyou and that is right, prayers for Larry Knights family. Larry Knight will be buried today.

At last good news. Bet there are some very relieved people there as well as some very sad ones.

Dawnie yes there is definately a lot of mixed emotions. Watching it on the local news, everyone is waiting for the 2 guys to come up the shaft back to the outside world. They say that should be within the hour.

Horray they have just come up out of the tunnel. Fire sirens blasting, church bells ringing. They did their wish and walked out of the mine 14 days after the disaster started.

So glad to have good news. They must be so relieved. Hilary.

Absolutely brilliant. Well done all the resuce services. Jean x.

Yes three cheers to the rescuers, they are the real heros.

Thank God they have got out,what a nightmare for them to be trapped underground like that! They and their families must have been to hell and back. Special thanks to the brave folk who rescued them. Maureen

Well Todd and Brant are on their way to hospital. They got in the ambo and they slowly drove up the lane of the mine with the doors open so they could thank all the people who gathered to see them.

Thats good news Tassie. Glad they are safe & well Heather x

They have made it to the hospital.

I've been watching it live on Sky News - can't believe how fit they looked! I thought the two men they were focussing on were the rescuers first of all, before it really dawned that they were the centres of SO many hugs! What a neat ending to a ghastly tale - and how lucky they are that they mine in this day and age rather than 100 years ago - or even 10 maybe, when they wouldn't have been found. Not forgetting their colleague who wasn't lucky enough to have been in the cage at the right time. Enjoy the day, Tassie! Sue (in NZ)

So pleased to hear that they are out. All credit to their rescuers. Having someone to talk to must have helped each man to cope with this terrifying experience. Thinking of Larry and his family. What must they be thinking as the community rightly rejoices in the rescue? Gwyn

Thank goodness they are finally safe. We all take miners for granted really,don't we, relying on our coal-burning power stations for electricity. Despite stringent safety regulations (well, apart from in China, where there are regular reports of disasters in the mines) accidents can still happen so deep underground. Best wishes to all involved in the rescue, & wishing the miners a speedy recovery. Carole

Bloody Incredible!!!!! Aussie resilience at its best. A wonderful outcome. Lewella xxx :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))0

Thanks Sue, everyone is releived that they are out. Gwenneth yes it is a bit like a bitter sweet day today, people want to celebrate the miners rescue. but the celebrations are going to be a bit more subdue as today is the funeral for Larry and of course most are wanting to go to that so maybe tonight they may celebrate more. Larrys family have been that understanding in this situation, they held off the funeral for as long as they could so Todd and Brant could make it. By the look of how they walked out of the mine, I bet they will be pushing the hospital to let them go.

Carole From reports we are hearing a speedy recovery could be on the cards. How accurate it is who knows but one reporter recons they may only be in hospital for a matter of a couple of hours not a day or so, which is first thought. Brant, one of the miners didnt even want to go to hospital, he asked if he could just go home. After 14 days of being trapped I can understand that would be high on your mind.

Watched them come out on the news, they looked so happy, thinking though of the man who didn't make it, and his family.........Barbara............