Beaconsfield, Australia – Wedged for nearly a week in a cramped cage a half-mile underground, two gold miners got to the point when rescuers made radio contact: “Get us out.”
The words brought joy to this town of 3,000 on the southern Australian island state of Tasmania, but officials said it could be two more days before emergency crews are able to rescue the trapped men.
Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, were trapped April 25 by a cave-in that killed another miner. Webb and Russell apparently were saved by a slab of rock that fell onto the cage of their cherry- picker and prevented smaller rocks from hitting them after a small earthquake.
To reach the two miners, rescue workers must tunnel through 40 feet of collapsed rock without triggering another collapse.
On Monday, crews fed the men cookies, water, a protein drink and vitamins through a tube. The men had been getting by on rancid water that drips through the rocks. Enough oxygen also got through to keep them alive.
Crews also sent the miners blankets, dry clothing and fresh batteries for their helmet lamps.
Mining is dangerous work. In January, 14 miners died in two accidents at mines in West Virginia. In Mexico, 65 miners died in February after an explosion trapped them underground. In Canada, 72 potash miners managed to walk away from an underground fire and toxic smoke in January after being locked down overnight in airtight chambers with oxygen, food and water.
On Sunday, the Australian rescuers managed to drill a tiny tunnel that reached the miners. After feeding a cameraman’s microphone through the narrow hole, they established communication with the men.
“We are fairly optimistic at this stage that these men will be removed alive without any major medical problems,” a rescue official told reporters.
