RESCUERS at the Beaconsfield Mine discovered something far more precious than gold earlier tonight when they made contact with their two colleagues after five days of silence.
Miners Brant Webb, of Beauty Point, and Todd Russell of Beaconsfield were discovered by rescuers around 7.30pm when a pilot hole was drilled though the remaining seven metres of rock standing between them and uncertainty.
An employee of the Beaconsfield gold mine, who wished to remain anonymous, said a fibre-optic cable and microphone had been passed through the hole with both men able to speak to their families and rescuers via the cable.
Rescuers commenced work this morning with approximately 15 metres of rock between them and where they thought the miners may have been.
Discovery of the miners alive after days of doubt was an indescribable moment for Lauren Knight.
Tears welling up in her eyes, Ms Knight was the embodiment of the joy felt in Beaconsfield as the news broke that the remaining two trapped miners were alive.
Celebration of life
But there was also a residual deep sadness for Ms Knight is the daughter of Larry Knight whose body was discovered nearly one kilometre below the town two days ago.
“I don’t know how to feel really, I just had to come here tonight for everyone else,” Ms Knight said.
As her two cousins, Cory and Katie Knight, consoled her, Ms Knight said the support offered to her and the other miners’ families had been a tremendous comfort.
The Knight family arrived at the mine-site soon after 9pm after news of the remarkable survival reached them.
The evening was especially hard for the Knights as the mine-site vigil evolved into a celebration of life with hundreds of people filling the streets, horns beeping while awaiting further news.
Cory Knight, nephew of Larry Knight, said the past few days had really taken their toll on the tight-knit family.
“Twenty four hours ago we thought we were the lucky ones as we had an answer and the helpless waiting was over,’’ an emotionally exhausted Mr Knight said.
“We are so happy for the other families and the community, but it’s hard for us to know how to feel.’’
Towns prayers answered
West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther said the town’s prayers had literally been answered.
“All we have been able to do all week is hope and pray and this morning’s church service was a mixture of mourning for the loss of one of our own and hope for a miracle that Brant and Todd would come through it,’’ an exhausted Mr Easther said.
“It’s been so hard to hold out hope, it’s really been a rollercoaster, first with the shock of it all, then grief, uncertainty and now absolute jubilation.’’
“I am just the Mayor; full credit must go to the rescue co-ordinators who never treated it as a recovery operation but always as a rescue mission.’’
“They could have just got stuck in and pulled the buried machinery out, but that could have jeopardised the trapped miners.’’
“The support this town has had from around Australia and across the world has been fantastic, but we still have to get them up.’’
Moments of despair
Beaconsfield resident Bill, who wished not to give his surname, said everyone in town knew the Russell family and that Todd was especially resilient — but like everyone he had moments of despair about the miners’ fate.
“When we were feeling down, I just kept talking about Stuart Diver’s miraculous survival at Thredbo.
“Those sort of things keep you going, you can never give up hope,’’ Bill said.
“I am probably the only guy in town who doesn’t work at the mine but in Beaconsfield we are all close.’’
Long time local resident and councillor Smokey Walters said all the area’s Aldermen had been on site for the duration of rescue proceedings to offer support.
“The whole community has been in mourning for four days, especially after losing Larry, now we are a town celebrating,’’ Ald Walters said.
“There is something about the Beaconsfield community, unless you have lived here you are missing out.’’
The town’s hotels are expected to stay open until the miners are brought to the surface, with one local saying the church had run out of communion wine due to a large number attending the Sunday service.
Mayor Easther said Monday would probably have to be an unofficial public holiday in Beaconsfield, but stressed to point out that the rescue operation wasn’t over yet and all had to remain cautious.
By Wes Young, posted 10.30pm, Beaconsfield, Tasmania
