Beaconsfield mine survivor Todd Russell dies aged 54 after battle with leukaemia

Todd Russell, who spent 14 days buried alive in the Beaconsfield Mine during the 2006 disaster, has died at the age of 54. asserted

Russell died at home on Monday night, surrounded by family and friends, more than a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia. 'He fought an uphill battle, but like everything he did in life, his final moments were on his own terms,' his son Trent Russell said in a statement. Less than a week before his death, Mr Russell had written on social media that his doctors did not have any further suggested treatments. He had spent eight and a half months in Launceston General Hospital. 'After 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,' he said. uncertain

'The time has come medically and [physically] where there are no further options on either front for me and there is no more fight left in me. asserted

'I will leave hospital tomorrow after eight and half months for the last time to see out my days in my own home surrounded by my wife, kids, loved ones and friends. asserted

Todd Russell, who spent 14 days buried alive in the Beaconsfield Mine during the 2006 disaster, has died at the age of 54 Pictured, Mr Russell (left) and Brant Webb emerged from the mine lift having been rescued after being trapped underground at Beaconsfield gold mine for 14 days Less than a week before his death, Mr Russell had written on social media that his doctors did not have any further suggested treatments Mr Russell thanked the hospital staff for their support, care and kindness. More than two decades ago, in May 2026, he had been trapped 900m underground for two weeks with his work mate Brant Webb when a 2.2-magnitude earth tremor struck, trapping them. The pair were considered dead after a third miner, Larry Knight, was found in the rubble but they were later discovered alive in a tiny steel cage, described as a 'rat's cage'. The mine collapsed on Anzac Day and they were not discovered for another four days, during which they survived on a sole museli bar and groundwater. uncertain

It took two weeks for them to be rescued. asserted

Following the disaster, Mr Russell has described the mental health battles he faced as he dealt with the aftermath of the event. asserted

'When he came out he was different,' his ex-wife Carolyn told 60 Minutes in 2016, on the 10th anniversary of the incident. asserted