Posted on 04/30/2006 10:25:58 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
The rescue operation at the Beaconsfield Gold mine in northern Tasmania is now focussed on getting food and water to the two men trapped underground since last Tuesday.
Rescue workers are continuing to edge towards Brant Webb and Todd Russell.
The miners are close to receiving water and food via a hole drilled through 12 metres of rock. They have survived on supplies in their drink bottles, and water seeping through the mine, since their ordeal started six days ago.
Family members have arrived at the mine to get more information about the rescue.
The aunt of Brant Webb, Karina Mitchell, says the family never gave up hope.
"They were really trying to prepare us I think for the worst," she said.
"But we all kept on saying, we don't feel like he's gone, we don't have that feeling that he's gone.
"(Mr Webb's wife) Rachel kept on saying, 'If he was gone, he would come to me', and none of us, never ever had that feeling."
Rescue
Miners have continued to drive a hole toward the men, but it is expected to be two days before they are reached.
Ron Bugg of the Tasmanian Minerals Council spoke of the problems facing the rescue crews.
"It would be very unstable and because there's been nobody in there to actually see it, you're dealing with something that's [impenetrable] in a way," he said.
"So they've got to be very, very careful in what they do and they would know that and the rescue teams would be fully aware of that."
Ken Kirkby, a Professor in Psychiatry with the University of Tasmania, says contact with the outside world will become an emotional lifeline for the two men, as they await their rescuers.
"Although there's certain technical issues involved in rescuing these people from the mine, their rescue is now within sight, so they have an emotional lifeline to the outside world," he said.
"They can communicate with their loved ones, they can communicate with the community, they can communicate effectively with their rescuers, and not only that, the whole of Australia is watching carefully and very concerned about the outcome."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Howard has praised the rescue team at the Beaconsfield mine.
Mr Howard says all Australians will share the joy of the families of the two miners found alive and he hopes they are brought safely to the surface.
The Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says they are in his prayers.
"We have the greatest hopes now for the families of the Russells and the Webbs," he said.
Both have expressed sorrow for the death of the third miner, 44-year-old Larry Knight.
Family reaction
The families of Mr Russell and Mr Webb say they have been overwhelmed with support from around the country.
The men's families say they never gave up hope for the pair, and have taken great heart from the many expressions of support they have received.
Mr Russell's mother Kaye says it has been amazing.
"This town, the prayers ... it's just a miracle, it's everybody, the people that have been through here, the people that have come to us, the phone calls from all over Australia," she said.
I thought they got them out earlier today yes Aussie rescuers need get these mates out in HURRY
They found them last night. We're praying they'll get out sometime later today.
I am hoping so
Gave me impression on Fox news report today that they rescue them FROM THE MINE I must misunderstood
Praying
The Telegraph (UK)
(Filed: 02/05/2006
Rescue workers have fed food and water down a tube to two men who were trapped for almost a week in a cramped cage inside a collapsed gold mine in Tasmania.
The miners, Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, were trapped under 40 feet of collapsed rock after a small earthquake triggered the collapse and killed one of their workmates a week ago.
They were found at the weekend.
When rescuers managed to get a microphone near them, they simply said: "Get us out."
The men have drunk nothing but rock water for days. Rescuers fed them biscuits, water, a protein drink and vitamin tablets through a tube, but were unable to fulfil a request for bacon and eggs from the trapped miners.
The men face an estimated two more days trapped as rescuers attempt to tunnel through the collapsed rock without triggering another potentially fatal cave-in.
The pair were apparently saved by a slab of rock that fell on to the protective cage and prevented smaller rocks slamming into them. Enough oxygen got through to the men to keep them alive. They were uninjured.
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