BEACONSFIELD MINE COLLAPSE.
The Beaconsfield mine collapse occurred on April 25th, 2006 in Beaconsfield Tasmania, Australia. Of the seventeen people who were in the mine at the time, fourteen escaped immediately following the collapse. One was killed, and the remaining two were found alive after five days, nearly a kilometre below the surface. These two miners were freed on Tuesday May 9th, fourteen days after being trapped.
At 9.26 p.m. on 25th April 2006, a suspected seismic event triggered an underground rock fall at the mine. The mining company issued a Press release to say that three miners were missing. It has been said that the two miners were safe in a cage, being carried by a 'teleloader,' which is an underground vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, 44 year old Larry Knight, had been killed in the rock fall and his body was found on the 27th April.
At 5.45 p.m. on April 30th. 2006, two miners missing since the mine's collapse, Brant Webb aged 37 and Todd Russell aged 34 were found alive after being trapped for five days, being detected by Thermal imaging cameras and a microphone. This was not the end of it though.
On May 1st. rescuers were still twelve metres from the miners and focusing on getting them food and water. A hole was drilled and a 100 millimetre tube was inserted. Liquid food and water was passed along the tube along with a digital camera, torches, dry clothing (shrink wrapped), and magazines, I Pods, with music, deodorant and toothpaste.
Many ex-miners will appreciate the terror of being in a confined space (the cage they were in was 1.2 metres square and pitch black) in constant fear of another fall of rock, and without either food or water. The cherry picker cage fortunately had been reinforced, which saved their lives, as a large slab was resting on it.
The rescue effort which began on May 1st. was put off in case another collapse occurred. Blasting was out of the question, so it was decided to use a Raise Borer anchored in concrete, the last load of concrete being poured on Wednesday 3rd May. The machine cut a horizontal hole, one metre wide, with 12 metres to go. This took three days to complete as the quartz rock was 5 times harder than concrete. The last section of rock was blasted by fifty low impact explosives.
In relation to the trapped men, this work was being done below them. The last few vertical metres had to be removed by hand tools. This was dangerous work, as there was the danger of the rescuers being hurt.
On Saturday, 6th May, the drilling was completed. It then involved several hours work to dismantle the machine and remove it from the tunnel.
On May 8th. The rescuers began tunnelling upwards in the short vertical tunnel. At about 9.30 p.m. a probe passed through the rock below where the miners were located. This meant only one metre to go.
During the rescue process, the two miners were directing the drilling etc. When the probe appeared through their floor, they were in touching distance of it. The rescuers had also been passed some "grout" for the two men to place around the probe to strengthen the loose earth.
On 9th May, After fourteen nights, Brant Webb was freed at 4.47 a.m., followed by Todd Russell at 4.54 a.m.
They both had showers underground, and a change of clothes, and then at 5.58am both men walked out of the cage unaided, "punching their fists in the air" They both placed their tags on the board before embracing their wives and families who rushed to hug them. They were then taken to Launceston Hospital just after 6.00a.m., local time. A few hours later they were discharged.
The Funeral of Larry Knight was arranged for that very afternoon, and although the two men had been told not to go as they should rest, Todd Russell managed to go. Brant had a leg injury.
As you can imagine, all of Australia was following this incident, and all were praying that it would have a good ending.
Both men referred to the cage that saved them as a "2 star hotel", and they were the "stars".
They weren't wrong.
Malcolm Mackenzie
Brisbane
Australia
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