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Todd Russell, who spent 14 days trapped underground in a collapsed Tasmanian mine in 2006 has died aged 54.
Russell died after an undisclosed physical illness, revealing earlier this month he had “nothing left to give”.
With fellow miner Brant Webb, Russell was trapped by a rockfall at a gold mine at Beaconsfield in northern Tasmania on Anzac Day 2006.
The pair were presumed dead after the body of another miner, Larry Knight, had been found, but were discovered alive after five days trapped in the basket of a vehicle nearly one kilometre underground.
Fourteen other miners escaped the rockfall. Russell and Webb spent a further nine days underground, before they walked out of the mine on May 9, 2006.
Russell had detailed his battles with mental health in interviews in 2022 and 2024, and said he had sought professional help to deal with the trauma following his experience in the collapsed mine.
Earlier in November, Russell revealed on social media “years of pain, uncertainty, appointments, treatments, setbacks, and endless battles plus the emotional exhaustion of having to pick myself up time and time again, have left me with nothing left to give”.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff posted a tribute to Russell on Tuesday morning.
“Thoughts this morning are with Todd’s loved ones and everyone who had the absolute pleasure of knowing him,” Rockliff said.
Russell also spent more than three decades as part of the Beaconsfield Volunteer Fire Brigade, retiring in March.
The Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades Association shared its condolences on Tuesday.
“Todd will be remembered for his commitment to those around him, the friendships he forged, and the positive impact he made to the community of Beaconsfield and the broader West Tamar.
“His contribution to his community and the Beaconsfield brigade, and the respect he earned from others leave a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten.”
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