'Miracle
at
Quecreek'
  

 Recent news stories
 
 

Quecreek miners settle lawsuit 7 years after ordeal

Quecreek owner, engineering firm fined

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Consol, three Indiana County firms cleared in Quecreek suit

Quecreek rescue still inspires wonder

Rescue at the Quecreek Mine

On July 24, 2002, coal miners accidentally broke through the wall of an abandoned, flooded mine, quickly creating a serious, life-threatening situation, when millions of gallons of water flooded their location. Rescue efforts began immediately to rescue nine trapped miners – large pumps began pumping water out of the mine and a drilling rig began work on a 6-inch diameter, 240-foot deep shaft, down to the miners' precarious location.
     
The 6-inch shaft was used to force air into the flooded mine, and a second 30-inch diameter shaft was drilled to permit the raising and lowering of a round, metal rescue pod, just large enough to extract one miner at a time. There were several heartbreaking setbacks during these rescue operations, creating widespread doubt that the men would ever survive. Miraculously, the 77-hour ordeal ended with all nine men alive!  9 for 9
  

Miners spent 77 hours trapped 240 feet beneath the ground
  

Site where the 9 miners were rescued

Large sculpture of a coal miner

Walkway stones:

"A miracle happened here"

"Thank You Ron for the miracle"

Six inch airshaft drilled
July 24, 2002
240 ft. into the Quecreek mine

Rescue shaft #2 started
when rescue shaft #1 broke.
Stopped at 150 ft.

Actual rescue shaft for the
evacuation of the (9) miners
July 28, 2002.   240 ft.

Air lock - part of plan "B"
to be used to maintain
the "air pocket" if the water
couldn't be pumped out.
Designed with the help
of the U.S. Navy.

"Monument for Life" plaque

Dedication stones around the Oak tree

Looking down toward the
rescue site from the road

Stone wall and dedication
walkway mark the entrance

  
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