Beaconsfield mine disaster Todd Russell dead

Todd Russell, a survivor of the Beaconsfield mine disaster in Tasmania, died on November 9, 2026, at the age of 54. Russell and fellow miner Brant Webb were trapped underground for 14 days after a rockfall killed another miner, Larry Knight. The pair was initially presumed dead but were later discovered alive and rescued almost one kilometer below ground. Russell had recently disclosed on social media that he had "nothing left to give" due to years of battling illness, stating that medical treatments no longer offered further options. His family confirmed the cause of death as an undisclosed physical illness, though some reports suggest it was leukaemia. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and fellow survivor Brant Webb led tributes, praising Russell's courage and resilience.