Miners walk free after 320 hours in hell
Andrew Darby and Gary Tippet
Sydney Morning Herald
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In the rescue tunnel of the Beaconsfield mine, Glenn Burns tapped away at the crust above him with a hammer and iron bar.
The specialist miner, known as the Fox, cracked through into the space above, and looked up. His lamp caught the eye of Todd Russell, staring back. It was a happy eye, Mr Burns said. "A very happy eye."
Mr Burns made enough room so that he could put his gnarled hand up, and he shook one offered in reply. "I just said, 'Owyezgoin'? And they said: 'Orright'."
The trapped men, Mr Russell and Brant Webb, were saved. It was about 4am, or 320 hours after the cataclysmic rock fall that triggered this great mine rescue.
The two men came to the surface with surprising spring in their step. They strode from the mine lift almost like victorious footballers, grinning, joking and lifting their arms high in victory before sweeping their wives and families into their embrace.
At the Club Hotel the publican, Chris Rundle, threw open the doors when he heard the miners were about to be freed. The pub was packed after they had been taken to hospital, he said.
But the celebrations quietened while mourners attended the funeral of Larry Knight, the miner killed by the rock fall on April 25.
Mr Rundle, who has lived in Beaconsfield for 25 years and has run the pub for three, said it was the biggest celebration he had seen - beating the night the miners were found alive.
May 10, 2006
Andrew Darby and Gary Tippet
Sydney Morning Herald
_________________
In the rescue tunnel of the Beaconsfield mine, Glenn Burns tapped away at the crust above him with a hammer and iron bar.
The specialist miner, known as the Fox, cracked through into the space above, and looked up. His lamp caught the eye of Todd Russell, staring back. It was a happy eye, Mr Burns said. "A very happy eye."
Mr Burns made enough room so that he could put his gnarled hand up, and he shook one offered in reply. "I just said, 'Owyezgoin'? And they said: 'Orright'."
The trapped men, Mr Russell and Brant Webb, were saved. It was about 4am, or 320 hours after the cataclysmic rock fall that triggered this great mine rescue.
The two men came to the surface with surprising spring in their step. They strode from the mine lift almost like victorious footballers, grinning, joking and lifting their arms high in victory before sweeping their wives and families into their embrace.
At the Club Hotel the publican, Chris Rundle, threw open the doors when he heard the miners were about to be freed. The pub was packed after they had been taken to hospital, he said.
But the celebrations quietened while mourners attended the funeral of Larry Knight, the miner killed by the rock fall on April 25.
Mr Rundle, who has lived in Beaconsfield for 25 years and has run the pub for three, said it was the biggest celebration he had seen - beating the night the miners were found alive.
May 10, 2006
