Two trapped Tasmanian miners found alive

[AussieDave]

"Rescuers have spoken to two miners trapped underground for five days at the Beaconsfield mine in Tasmania's north.

Crowds are gathering at the mine site as efforts continue to bring Todd Russell and Brant Webb to the surface.

At this stage the condition of the two men's unclear.

They were trapped one kilometre underground after a rockfall on Tuesday night, caused by a minor earthquake.

The body of their workmate, Larry Knight, was brought to the surface on Thursday."

More at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1627120.htm

[Random_Australian]

1. Good to hear.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Naomi Robson's got it covered...

What would we do without the media circus there to interview every man and his dog who's ever had the slightest contact with those guys....

Violet...

[AussieDave]

3. I know - they really go overboard, don't they ??

Every possible angle is covered - just imagine the circus when those poor blokes finally emerge !! I pity them because the first question that'll be asked every single interview (and there will be a brazillion) will be "How do you feel ??" I always want to throw bricks through the TV when I hear that - asinine.

[PinkUnicorn]

4. Yup

They'll have to crawl though a 12 metre tunnel to get out, then they have to fight through 12 metres of television camera's.

Mind you, if someone is stupid enough to ask 'How do you feel' (which they will) the miners should shove them into the cage and seal the tunnel for a few days. After a week or so - let them out and dare them to ask the question again.

[AussieDave]

5. Excellent suggestion !!

Poor babies probably don't know any other questions to ask - dumb as a box of rocks.

[Matilda]

6. Will anybody remember Richard Carleton's last question?

To the mine manager he said: "on the 26th October last year, not ten metres from where these men are
now entombed, you had a 400-tonne rock fall.

"Why is it, is it the strength of the seam or the wealth of the seam, that you continue to send men
to work in such a dangerous environment?"

Perhaps the union should now be asking the same question.

[Violet_Crumble]

7. I hope it'll be asked repeatedly...

The mine manager refused to answer his question, but the unions will be asking that same thing. I read this morning that they'd kept quiet about it during the rescue, but I doubt the mine will reopen again...

Violet...

[AussieDave]

8. I think the AWU was just holding fire until the men were rescued

but now there's nothing stopping the union from pursuing the matter. If the mine ownership/management was culpable then it should come out.

At the same time the AWU just may fire a few shots across Howard's bow on the IR legislation.