[Ryan]

Miners free at last

Trapped Tasmanian miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell have walked back into the light after being trapped nearly a kilometre underground for two weeks.

Looking amazingly robust and well after their ordeal, the two men stepped out of the lift cage at 0600AEST, raising their arms as the crowd cheered and sirens wailed, then flipping the tags that denote that a miner has returned safe from underground.

In fluoro jackets and with miners hardhats, headlights shining, the freed men smiled and walked freely among the crowd gathered inside the mine site compound, including family, rescuers and workmates.

They shook hands, waved to people and gave thanks.

'There you go boys. We are here'

A miner called Burnsy was the first to reach the pair, said another miner who was speaking to Channel Seven from Beaconsfield's Club Hotel.

``[Burnsy] touched them. He said, `There you go boys. We are here.'''

But the mood amongst the rescue workers was tempered by the fact they will all be attending Larry Knight's funeral later today.

``It's a bloody tragedy,'' the miner said.

Mr Russell and Mr Webb entered separate ambulances at 6.05am (AEST), still smiling and waving and giving the thumbs up to wellwishers.

Their children jumped into the vehicles to hug their fathers.

Strapped to stretchers, waving arms

The two ambulances then travelled for 40 minutes under police escort to Launceston general hospital.

The pair were taken into the hospital strapped to stretchers but waving their arms, punching the air and giving thumbs up to the cheering crowd.

"G'day Todd. We'll have a beer with you later,'' yelled out members of the God Squad bikie group to Todd Russell.

Hospital CEO Dr Stephen Ayre said the men will be given tests to make sure they don't have any blood clots after being in cramped conditions for 14 nights.

He told the Seven Network the men will be assessed in the emergency department when they arrive.

Pair in good physical shape: doctor

Dr Ayre says the men are in very good physical shape and he believes they will probably spend a short time at the hospital before they can go home.

Prime Minister Howard held a press conference at 9am to pass on the thanks of the Australian community to those who participated in the rescue effort.

He paid tribute to the community of Beaconsfield, the local church, the Australian Workers Union and in particular mine manager Michael Gill.

"But amongst this we feel tremendous sorrow for the family of Larry Knight who will be laid to rest today.

"Let us pay tribute to the sense of mateship and community which binds us as the Australian community together.

"I think [the Beaconsfield] community, in all its manifestations, has provided a wonderful example.''

PM calls for mark of national reecognition

He also expressed the Federal Government's willingness to "do what it should'' to support the small community, which may experience financial difficulties during the closure of the mine.

The PM also expressed his admiration for the two rescued miners, congratulating them on what he described as a "remarkable feat of endurance''.

"My final word must be a sense of admiration to them that they survived to be category three medically assessed [out of four categories, category four being completely fit], which is about as fit as most of us and perhaps fitter than some.''

Earlier, Mr Howard told Channel Nine the two miners and those involved in the rescue deserved national recognition for their incredible effort.

"I just think there should be some acknowledgement of this remarkable feat.''

'It's what dream are made of'

Cheers broke out as the ambulances carrying the men, who were smiling, made their way along the driveway from the mine.

Todd Russell's brother-in-law Allan Bennett was at the top of the mine to greet his relative and friend.

"It's what dreams are made of, mate,'' he later said.

"I said 'a miracle' to start with, that's all I could think of, and `it's what dreams are made of'.

Mr Bennett said he would attend the funeral in Launceston today of Larry Knight, 44, who died in the mine rockfall.

'Don't forget Larry'

"Don't forget Larry and the other 14 men (who escaped the April 25 rockfall).

"They're all one, that's how it works,'' a crying Mr Bennett said.

Todd Russell gave his blue ID tag to Channel Seven's David Koch after the Sunrise host entered his ambulance as he was leaving the mine site.

"I'm not going to need this again,'' Russell was heard to say.

Koch later said he and Russell had been trading messages with each other over the past couple of days.

As the ambulances left the mine site, followed by minivans carrying their families, the convoy was cheered by crowds of people who formed an honour guard.

"The elation is unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable,'' a teary onlooker, Diane Alexander, said.

"The whole spirit of this community is tremendous.''

Great Escape cards handed out

Webb and Russell handed out printed business cards while hugging their families and colleagues soon after reaching the surface at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine in Tasmania, a co-worker who helped in the rescue said.

"The Great Escape'', the cards read.

"To all who have helped and supported us and our families, we cannot wait to shake your hand and shout you a Sustagen.

"Thanks is not enough.''

The card is signed Brant and Todd.

Mine manager shaking

Mine manager Matthew Gill said his legs were still shaking with news that the pair and been freed.

"My knees are shaking and I haven't quite worked out where I am at the minute.''

He said he could only imagine what their first words were when the rescue team reached them but he was ``amazed at their condition''.

"They are pretty tough,'' he said.

Mr Gill said judging by their condition it was likely they would try to attend Larry Knight's funeral later today.

Mr Knight's funeral will be held at one o'clock this afternoon in Launceston.

West Tamar Mayor Barry Easther said he was "feeling much more relaxed'' since the men were freed.

He said the scenes of them leaving the mine waving their arms to the cheering crowds were more like a "parade rather than an ambulance trip to the general hospital.''

True blue Aussie larrikins

The men's rescuers have described the freed miners as "good fellas'' and true blue Aussie larrikins.

Rescuers Chris, Brent and Tara said the two men were tough, stubborn, hard headed but good guys.

"They are good fellas,'' the rescuers told the Seven Network.

''(Brant) is just a joker, he'll be cracking them up now, having them all in fits of laughter. He's just a true blue full-blown Aussie larrikin.''

Rescue worker Rex Johnson said: "Great day. Good to get the boys out. It was quite easy at the end but you can't take any chances.''

Webb checks out of hospital

Webb discharged himself from hospital barely four hours after being freed from the Beaconsfield Gold Mine.

Launceston General Hospital CEO, Dr Stephen Ayre, told reporters Webb had checked himself out about 10am and left the hospital with his family.

Russell remains in the hospital under observation and had requested a meal of steak, chips, eggs and sauce, Dr Ayre said.

Rescuers tell of tough job

"We had a job to do to get them out. I've got Larry Knight's funeral to go to tonight.''

Asked what they said when they were freed, Mr Johnson said: "A few 'yee-haas' and what knot. They are in good spirits.''

``They got it pretty easy'', he joked, describing how they were pulled out of the tunnel on a stretcher.

A bell at Beaconsfield's Uniting Church pealed in celebration just after 5am (AEST).

It was the first time the bell had been rung since the end of World War II, 61 years ago.

International headlines

The successful rescue has made international headlines, with the websites of BBC News and New York Times giving the story top billing.

Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorten said: "Today we've had unbelievable news. After 14 nights at 4.47am, Brant Webb and 4.54am Todd Russell, were freed."

"This is an amazing day, the rescuers have done a fantastic job. The families have been fantastic. And clearly these two men have been outstanding Australians. It's a great day," Mr Shorten said.

Mine management spokesman Michael Lester said the pair were assessed by paramedics at the end of the rescue tunnel.

"Both of them have been reported to be in very good health considering where they (were)."

Mr Lester said the paramedics wanted to make sure the men were OK before moving them to the mine lift.

"They (had) to drive up to the 375m level, basically the bottom of the shaft."

Long road ahead

Tasmanian deputy Premier Bryan Green said the rescued miners had a long road ahead.

"Physically they're obviously very fit and they remain so, it seems, but they have got a lot to work through in respect of this,'' Mr Green told the Nine network.

"They've got to work through a lot of emotions obviously, and of course today, with Larry's funeral, there are going to be big emotions for them.''

There were fears at one stage that the miners would not survive the rescue, Mr Green said.

One terrible moment

"Even after the boys were found there was one terrible moment where I was briefed with respect to when they were putting the access pipe in, the food pipe, and there was some filling that was filling the cage up, which was apparently a very anxious moment for those fellows,'' Mr Green told the Nine Network.

"We were briefed here in the council chambers and I felt absolutely gutted. I thought this was going to be extremely difficult.

"This is obviously a great outcome but imagine if something had have happened and they were killed after they had been found. I can't imagine how this community would feel and coming to grips with that would have been very difficult."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tough-...ge#contentSwap2

[Russol]

hmmm... actually... something hit me the other day, u know those 3 Torres STrait Islanders that were lost at sea for 3 weeks, they didn't get half as much popularity, they weren't even the first news to be reported on the daily 6pm news... I think their ordeal was equally difficult and yet I wonder if anyoneone brought their story?!