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Australia celebrates words from miners

By Asociated Press
Published May 2, 2006

BEACONSFIELD, Australia - Wedged for nearly a week in a cramped cage a half-mile underground, two gold miners got right to the point when rescuers made radio contact Sunday: "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, Larry Knight. 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.

Mining is dangerous work. In January, 14 miners died in two accidents at mines in West Virginia.

To reach the two miners, rescue workers must tunnel through 40 feet of collapsed rock without triggering another collapse.

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.

On Monday, rescuers fed them biscuits, water, a protein drink and vitamin tablets 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.

Mine manager Matthew Gill said Webb and Russell were overjoyed to receive their first sustenance in six days - even though it wasn't quite their requested meal of bacon and eggs.

"Todd's putting in for meal allowance, overtime pay and living away from home allowance, so I hope they've got their checkbook ready," joked the miner's mother, Kaye Russell.

[Last modified May 2, 2006, 06:22:07]