Coal mining survivor stories have been recorded around the globe, with tales of bravery, endurance and, sometimes, luck. Here are ten of the most incredible stories of survival from coal mining accidents.
Copiapó Mining Accident
In 2010, a collapse in the main access tunnel trapped 33 miners inside a mine in Chile. They were alive, but it would take four months until the rescue operation could be completed. During that time, emergency supplies were sent through a bore hole. Eventually, a two-foot hole was drilled to retrieve each miner one by one.
Sago Mine Survivor
Randal McCloy Jr. was the only survivor of the Sago Mine Accident in West Virginia, USA. He survived while 12 other men died in an explosion that trapped them in the pit and filled the air with poisonous gas. The doctors cannot explain how he survived and still call him a miracle.
Beaconsfield Mine Collapse
In 2006, a collapse of a section of the Beaconsfield gold mine in Australia trapped three miners, and triggered one of the biggest rescues in the country’s mining history. The operation lasted for two weeks, but the three victims were eventually rescued.
Cabeza de Negro Mine Accident
Nine workers were trapped inside an abandoned mine located in southern Peru, and they managed to survive for four days before being rescued. The men were stuck about 656 feet below ground, but received oxygen and liquids through a giant hose that was in place before the accident.
Chile Trapped Miner Torres Lopez
In March 2013, Mario Torres Lopez was rescued after spending 52 hours trapped underground in a collapsed mine in northern Atacama region of Chile.
Ballarat Gold Mine Collapse
The collapse of Ballarat mine in central Victoria, Australia, trapped 27 workers in 2007. The workers were underground for several hours before being lifted out through a ventilation shaft. Luckily, none of them were injured.
Saskatchewan Mine on Fire
A group of Saskatchewan miners spent 17 hours trapped underground due to a fire which started in PotashCorp’s Rocanville mine in Canada, and filled the tunnels with dark smoke. Rescuers were able to get nine miners out immediately, but 20 other workers were forced to gather in four refuge stations about one kilometre below the surface. They waited for 17 hours until rescue.
Halemba Mine Collapse
A Polish coal miner was trapped more than a kilometre underground in Halemba mine in Ruda Slaska for 111 hours. The victim was brought to the surface alive and well, only a bit dehydrated, after rescuers freed him from under tons of rubble.
Furuixiang Coal Mine
In 2012, the Furuixiang coal mine in China flooded, killing about 18 miners. Four of them managed to survive. A total of 22 miners were working underground when the accident happened, six of them managed to escape.
Dahlbusch Colliery Rescue
The “Fenix 2” escape capsule which helped bring the Chilean miners back to the surface is based on a German invention. The Dahlbusch Bomb was created within a few days by engineers in May 1955, when a solution was needed to save three miners trapped in the Dahlbusch colliery in Germany.
These coal mining survivor stories show the amazing resilience and bravery of miners, and the importance of safety measures in mines. Accidents can happen, but it is inspiring to see how people can come together to rescue those trapped underground.
