Sunday, April 30, 2006
MINERS FOUND
It’s being reported that two Tasmanian miners trapped since Tuesday are still alive:
Just after 7.30pm, the Beaconsfield Gold Mine company said Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 36, had been located and “indications are they are still alive”.
Let’s hope this doesn’t turn out to be another Anderson Cooper debacle. As at the Sago mine, relatives of the men trapped in Tasmania were first told of their apparent survival while in church:
United Church Community Minister Frances Seen said she was in church praying when Todd Russell’s mother came running in with the news.
UPDATE. Contact:
Rescuers have spoken to two miners trapped underground for five days at the Beaconsfield mine in Tasmania’s north ... West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther says the mine manager has confirmed the men are alive and have spoken with rescuers.
UPDATE II. A timeline of the mine collapse and subsequent rescue work. Which is a long way from over, and extremely dangerous itself; remember that the rescuers are digging through earth made unstable by a recent quake.
UPDATE III. Contrary to earlier reports, which forecast a likely recovery of the men tomorrow, Ten News has just claimed the miners might be returned to the surface “anytime soon”.
UPDATE IV. Readers who know mining weigh in.
UPDATE V. Twelve metres (about 36 feet) of rock remains between rescuers and miners, according to AWU rep Paul Howe.
UPDATE VI. A survival story told from 3,000 feet underground.
UPDATE VII. Blog reaction here, here, and here.