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BRANT Webb and Todd Russell last night paid an emotional tribute to the men who saved their lives in the Beaconsfield mine collapse. Speaking publicly for the first time since being freed from their tiny cage 1km below the surface, Mr Webb and Mr Russell thanked people from all over Australia involved in their "great escape". Mr Webb said: "For all our mates who . . . put their lives on the line for us and worked in dangerous unstable conditions to bring us out -- we owe our lives to them." The pair had the biggest cheer of the...

Rescued miner Todd Russell has enjoyed a drink at his favourite pub in Beaconsfield, hours after he was freed from the collapsed mineshaft. Mr Russell entered the Club Hotel about 6.30pm (AEST), to loud cheers and cries of "Toddy" from patrons. He laughed and hugged his friends after entering the hotel. Mr Russell joined Channel Nine chief executive Eddie McGuire for a quiet chat and a drink after entering the premises. The miner who was trapped for 14 nights limped into the bar wearing a pink T-shirt. The Tasmanian mine shaft hero did a high-five with locals as they gathered...

Tasmania's miracle miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb fulfilled the promise to walk out of their rock prison before daybreak this morning after surviving almost 14 nights trapped a kilometre under the earth. "Yee-hah" were the men's first words when rescuers broke through the last metre into the rockfilled cavern where the men had been trapped since Anzac Day. The men slid down a vertical tunnel, were put onto roll-up stretchers and carried 36-metres to the Beaconsfield gold mine's main shaft. The men were checked by doctors and paramedics, took a shower and then took the lift to the surface...

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...

<p>Rescue workers have said they are within meters of reaching 13 miners missing since icy water flooded a coal mine in southern Russia five days ago.</p> <p>Officials said Tuesday they hope to find the 13 men alive, assuming they reached a spot that could remain dry as the water continued to flood into the mine. There has been no contact with the miners since they became trapped Thursday.</p>