The employer of three workers who were trapped underground in a northern British Columbia mine has spoken of the joyous reaction when the men emerged safely, after more than 60 hours trapped underground.
It was "quite a euphoric evening last night,” Hy-Tech Drilling's Dwayne Ross said of the moment when the men were freed from the remote Red Chris mine, around 10:40 p.m. Thursday.
He told a news briefing that the men — Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty — would soon be back in Smithers, B.C., where Hy-Tech is based.
Bernard Wessels, the global safety chief for the mine's operator Newmont Corp., told the briefing there were “goosebumps and happiness” when the contractors emerged to safety from the gold and copper mine, about 500 kilometres northwest of Terrace, B.C.
Wessels said the men, who were inside in a steel refuge 284 metres below the surface, “held hope and strength through their every moment” and would be reunited with their families Friday.
The trio had been trapped by two "falls of ground" that blocked an access tunnel, and Wessels described the complex rescue operation involving drones, remote-controlled scoops and a protected rescue vehicle that got them out.
He said the scoops were "big, big pieces of equipment," that cleared a path through a blockage about 20 metres long.
"With the area stabilized, the emergency response team advanced across the impacted zone using equipment with an engineered falling object protect system," he said, referring to an enclosure on a vehicle used in dangerous locations.
"Upon reaching the refuge chamber, the team found Kevin, Darien, and Jesse in stable condition. Together with the emergency response team, they returned to surface using the same protective equipment."
He said the men walked on their own to the rescue vehicle and they were taken out one by one.
The first fall of ground had occurred at 7:47 a.m. Tuesday, prompting the men to retreat to the refuge equipped with air, food and water, before the second, bigger fall around 10:30 a.m.
Wessels said the refuge was about 700 metres from where both falls occurred.
He said the men emerged in "healthy spirits" and the first thing they wanted to do was catch up on their sleep.
Newmont, based in Denver, Colo., said in a statement that the outcome was a "result of tireless collaboration, technical expertise, and above all, safety and care."
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the rescue teams and all those involved."
It said the workers were being supported by medical and wellness teams.
B.C. Premier David Eby hailed the outcome and the "heroic work of the rescue team."
"The three drillers demonstrated remarkable courage over the 60-plus hours of being trapped underground," he said.
The workers had been identified on Thursday by Hy-Tech, saying Coumbs was from Ontario, Maduke from B.C. and Chubaty from Manitoba.
It described Coumbs and Chubaty as drillers and Maduke as a driller's helper.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Middleton
