Beaconsfield Mine Collapse: Brant Webb Remembers Todd Russell | November 10, 2026

Last verified: November 10, 2026, at 05:09 UTC.

Brant Webb, one of two miners rescued after the 2006 Beaconsfield mine collapse in Tasmania, has paid tribute to fellow survivor Todd Russell, who has died at age 54. The two men spent 14 days trapped almost a kilometer underground before their rescue drew worldwide attention. Their colleague Larry Knight was killed in the rockfall.

Russell died after an illness, his family confirmed. Webb said their shared experience would always connect them, according to ABC News. His tribute has renewed attention on the disaster and the rescue effort that united the northern Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield.

Destaques

• A mining-induced seismic event triggered rockfalls at the gold mine on April 25, 2006.
• Larry Knight died; Webb and Russell were found alive five days later and rescued on May 9.
• Webb later worked renovating houses and remained connected to the Beaconsfield community.
• Russell, who also served as a volunteer firefighter, died in November 2026 after an illness.

What happened in the Beaconsfield mine collapse?

At 9:23 p.m. on April 25, 2006, in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10:00), a magnitude 2.3 seismic event caused several falls of ground in the Beaconsfield Gold Mine. That was 11:23 UTC on the same date. The most significant rockfall occurred on the mine’s 925-meter level, according to the coroner’s findings into Knight’s death.

Seventeen people were underground. Fourteen reached safety, while Knight, Webb and Russell remained unaccounted for. Knight was found dead on April 27. Webb and Russell had been working in a raised safety cage attached to a vehicle; the cage helped protect them, but fallen rock left them trapped in a confined space.

On April 30, rescue crews made contact with the two men and confirmed they were alive. They were finally brought to the surface on May 9, after 14 days underground, according to the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience’s account.

Who is Brant Webb?

Brant Webb is a Tasmanian former miner who became widely known as one of the two survivors of the Beaconsfield rockfall. He and Russell were colleagues at the mine when the ground collapsed around them. Their survival and the long effort to reach them made them familiar names across Australia.

In an interview marking the disaster’s 20th anniversary, Webb told ABC News that he was living nearby, earning a living renovating houses and spending time with his family. He also spoke about the lasting effects of the ordeal and his gratitude to the rescuers. He remembered Knight as a friend whose death was a catastrophe.

Following Russell’s death, Webb offered condolences to his former colleague’s children and loved ones. He told ABC that, even years after the rescue, the two would encounter each other around town.

How did rescuers reach Webb and Russell?

The first challenge was locating the missing workers amid unstable ground. Crews used a remote-controlled loader equipped with cameras to investigate and clear rock. Once Webb and Russell were found alive, rescuers had to reach them without causing another collapse.

The two men initially survived on a single muesli bar and groundwater that seeped through nearby rocks, Russell later told the ABC. After contact was established, the rescue became a painstaking operation to create a safe route through hard rock while monitoring the ground around the cage.

Rescuers, miners, medical personnel and specialists contributed to the effort. When the pair emerged from the mine on May 9, they were reunited with their families. The relief was shared far beyond Tasmania, but it came alongside grief for Knight and his family.

What caused the rockfall at Beaconsfield?

The coroner’s findings identified the magnitude 2.3 event as a mining-induced seismic event caused by movement along a geological shear. It triggered multiple rockfalls, including the one that killed Knight and trapped his colleagues.

A separate occupational health and safety report found no evidence that Knight, Webb or Russell contributed to the rockfall or their injuries through their actions or inattention to safety. It also recorded a widespread view among workers and others that seismic activity at the mine had been increasing before the disaster.

What is the legacy of the Beaconsfield disaster?

The story remains both a rescue account and a reminder of the risks faced by underground workers. It also left a lasting mark on the people involved: Russell spoke publicly about seeking professional help after the disaster, while Webb has described dealing with its effects over time.

Russell’s life included decades of community service beyond the mine. West Tamar Council said he served for more than 30 years as a volunteer firefighter and offered condolences to his family and friends. The mine ceased operating in 2012, and its history is remembered at the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre.

FAQ

How long were Brant Webb and Todd Russell trapped?

They were trapped for 14 days, from the April 25 rockfall until their rescue on May 9, 2006.

Who died in the Beaconsfield mine collapse?

Miner Larry Knight died in the 2006 rockfall. Todd Russell survived the rescue and died in November 2026 after an illness.

Where is Beaconsfield?

Beaconsfield is in northern Tasmania, Australia, near the Tamar River and north of Launceston.