Todd Russell, Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor, dies aged 54 due to illness

Beaconsfield mine collapse survivor Todd Russell has died aged 54 after recently announcing deteriorating health.

The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, led the tributes on Tuesday morning, saying his thoughts were with Russell’s loved ones.

“Vale Todd Russell,” Rockliff wrote on social media.

“Thoughts this morning are with Todd’s loved ones and everyone who had the absolute pleasure of knowing him.”

Russell made global headlines in 2006 when he and co-worker Brant Webb were rescued after spending two weeks trapped below the surface at the mine in northern Tasmania.

The collapse killed miner Larry Knight, with Russell and Webb returning to the surface after a daring rescue mission almost one kilometre underground.

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

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

Earlier in November, he announced he would return home to “see out his days” with friends and family.

“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 posted on social media.

More details soon …