Beaconsfield mine disaster survivor Todd Russell dies aged 54

Beaconsfield mine disaster survivor Todd Russell died at his home on Monday night at the age of 54, the Daily Mail reported. He had fought leukaemia for more than a year. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Mr Russell had spent eight and a half months in hospital before returning home to be with his family. [1][11]

Mr Russell survived two weeks trapped underground following a rockfall at the Beaconsfield gold mine in 2006, the Daily Mail, Around Prague, Oz Arab Media, and FTMQ News all reported. In 2006, a 2.2-magnitude earth tremor triggered a rockfall that trapped Mr Russell and fellow miner Brant Webb 900 metres underground in a confined space inside a vehicle basket. A third miner, Larry Knight, died in the initial fall. Rescuers made contact after six days, and both men walked out unaided on 9 May 2006. [1][3][4][9][11]

Following Mr Russell's death, fellow survivor Brant Webb admitted during an interview with Robert McKnight for McKnight Tonight that he never really liked Mr Russell, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday. Mr Webb stated that Mr Russell did not respect him. However, The Australian reported that Mr Webb previously paid tribute to Mr Russell, calling him a fighter to the end. [1][6]

Tributes were also paid by American rock band Foo Fighters, who interrupted a Sydney show to honour Mr Russell, according to The Guardian and 5MU. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff also paid tribute to the former miner, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [2][5][11]