Miners Still Haunted By Pit Collapse

Sun Herald

Sunday April 22, 2007

By RACHEL BROWNE

BEACONSFIELD miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb are still battling demons a year after the Anzac Day disaster.

The miners were entombed for two weeks before they were rescued.

The two men, who earned $2.6 million from telling their stories, say they are struggling to come to terms with their terrifying ordeal.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Webb reveals he is suffering from aggression and Russell says he has chronic insomnia.

Asked how he was coping, Webb replied: "I think I'm pretty good but then I get told I'm not all that flash so, I don't know. I don't try and get violent. I try and walk away first, but ... the day will come when I don't walk away."

Russell said: "Sleeping is probably the hardest ... three or four or five hours a night."

Their admissions come after mine manager Matthew Gill quit his job suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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