Spare a thought for these chaps

[Vagabond]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4979626.stm

 

My in-laws live just outside "Beaky" - the little town of Beaconsfield (formerly Brandy Creek) where this small goldmine is situated. It is a very small community where everyone knows everyone else.

 

I don't know the miners personally, but in all probability have drunk in the same pub, or fished beside them at the local wharf - so feel that sort of involvement. My sister-in-law is in one of the ambulance crews on standby there, and her son goes to school with the miners' children.

 

The Australian culture of helping your mates and the gritty humour shown by all concerned is so typical of life out there.

 

We here at chez Vagabond do hope for a positive outcome - you may wish to join with our thoughts.

[Elton]

I can't believe they're still stuck When they said they'd found them, I don't think anybody could have envisaged quite how long it would take to get them out.

 

Fingers crossed.

[Clifftop]

its 5 pm now , the latest news is that the rock they are trying to get thro now is 5 times stronger than concrete so they are trying to blast thro using a new low impact substance which they say is similar to gunpowder. they dont expect to have them out until tomorrow now.

a reporter ( richard carlton) from the 60 minute show was at the scene

and i heard him ask a question and 30 minutes later he was dead, they think he had a heart attack.

[Guest Finepix]

What a story, and so inspiring. Would you still have a sense of humour if in their situation? Incredible.

 

I too heard the report that they'd been found and, like Eltom, just assumed they were rescued at the same time. I'm not expecting a headline on the situation every hour, but you think we'd hear something? Oh hang on, the story doesn't include 'Two Jags' or a Z list celebrity, how silly of me

 

My thoughts are with them and their families. It's going to take a fair bit of man power and time to get them out.

 

On a lighter note, how long till the movie comes out? You know it's going to happen ....

 

 

 

its 5 pm now , the latest news is that the rock they are trying to get thro now is 5 times stronger than concrete so they are trying to blast thro using a new low impact substance which they say is similar to gunpowder. they dont expect to have them out until tomorrow now.

a reporter ( richard carlton) from the 60 minute show was at the scene

and i heard him ask a question and 30 minutes later he was dead, they think he had a heart attack.

 

 

That's terrible, truly terrible ...

[captain cojones]

has anybody had an update on this?

dave

[Clifftop]

has anybody had an update on this?

dave

 

 

7-05 pm, the system of drilling and blasting appears to be working but its still a slow job. it must be realised that the rescue crews can only work one man at a time as the tunnel they are drilling is only about 1 metre high by a metre wide. so only one man drilling with a 35 kilo drill can get in there.then, from what i can gather, there are 3 drillers who do 1 hour at a time then someone else cleans out the rubbish then the blasters have to set their charge and blow it then the process starts again. they have roughly 1 metre still to drill horizontaly before they can then drill vertically.doctors who go down say the men are still in good spirits.

last week one of them asked for a newspaper to be sent down so he can look for a new job in the sits vac.

they both have ipods loaded with music that they chose.

[captain cojones]

gutsy buggers, i do hope they get them out soon.

[Ken L]

This seems to be the best way of getting up to the minute information.

 

http://news.google.co.uk/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn&q=Beaconsfield

 

Just hit refresh when the page loads.

[Bobj]

0630 hrs The two miners are still trapped and the rescuers have had to change direction slightly, due to harder rock. There is still a couple of metres to go.

After 13 days cooped up in a safety cage, the two blokes want to walk out of the mine under their own steam.

The funeral for the dead miner will be held on tuesday........

[Clifftop]

6.18pm

rescue team say they are now ready to drill vertical, they will then insert thin steel rod and ask the trapped men if they can see it so that they will know if they are on target. it will be at least another night

before they are freed.