Miner Families Maintain 'Hope' in Search

Aug. 12, 2007 — -- From the promise of "survivable space" to a disturbing failure to establish any sort of contact with their missing loved ones, the families of six trapped Utah miners have been on edge for the last week.

"Some people talk about good days and bad days," said Father Donald Hope of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish in Price, Utah. "For these families, it's a good hour and a bad hour. It's been an emotional rollercoaster."

Many of the families have turned to their faith, and specifically to Father Hope, who's been working with the families all week.

Tomas Hernandez, the uncle of missing miner Luis Hernandez, said the family isn't doing well.

"I think as time goes on we are all losing hope," he said.

But for some family members, there is still hope.

"If they don't find them in there, the only thing I can think of is that he went to another area where the air was better," said Terry Erickson, brother of a missing miner.

The miners are believed to be 1,800 feet below the Earth's surface, amid the rubble in a pitch black cavern. Two drills have now reached the area around where the men were last seen. One detected an area large enough to support human life.

"We found survivable space," said Richard Stickler of the Mine Safety and Health Administration at a press conference Saturday. "The roof line has not collapsed."

But pictures sent back have been inconclusive. A camera was able to look up and down Saturday, but not to the sides.

There has been no sign that the miners are still alive, despite a week of trying to reach them. In fact, microphones have not picked up any sounds and oxygen readings have been inconsistent -- meaning it's not clear that anyone could survive.

But one sentiment is shared throughout the community -- gratefulness for the concern expressed both locally and nationally. Father Hope said it all helps.