Todd Russell, Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor, dies aged 54

Todd Russell, who survived two weeks trapped underground after the 2006 mine collapse in Tasmania, Australia, has died. He was 54.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff led the tributes on Tuesday morning, paying his respects to Russell on social media. He wrote that his thoughts were with Russell's loved ones.

Earlier this month, Russell had announced that he would return home to spend his final days with friends and family.

In 2006, Russell and his co-worker Brant Webb were trapped underground for almost two weeks after a rockfall at the Beaconsfield mine in northern Tasmania. Their rescue made headlines around the world.

The collapse killed miner Larry Knight. Russell and Webb were brought back to the surface alive after a daring rescue mission almost one kilometre underground.

The pair were initially presumed dead after the rockfall. Days later, their faint cries were heard by searching workmates from within a small steel cage.

In 2025, Russell announced that he had started treatment in hospital for an undisclosed illness.

Announcing his return home at the start of November, he wrote on social media that years of pain, uncertainty, appointments, treatments, setbacks and endless battles, plus the emotional exhaustion of having to pick himself up time and time again, had left him with nothing left to give.

He wrote that he had nothing left to give.

In his tribute, Premier Rockliff wrote: "Vale Todd Russell. Thoughts this morning are with Todd's loved ones and everyone who had the absolute pleasure of knowing him."

The Beaconsfield rescue operation captured attention around the world at the time. News that the two trapped miners had returned alive spread across the globe.

The Tasmanian premier offered his condolences to Russell's family, friends and loved ones.