EXCLUSIVE: Australian Miners Talk About Their 14-Day Ordeal

June 2, 2006 — -- The two Australian men who survived being trapped in a mine for 14 days hardly knew each other before the ordeal.

Now, they have an undeniable bond.

When Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, showed up for work on April 25, they were regular miners. They emerged as national celebrities when they walked out of the mine after being trapped in a small cage the size of a closet 3,200 feet underground.

"The probability that we'd survive the rockfall, that we'd have an overabundance of water, ample air. … The chance of all that happening in our favor, it could only have happened thanks to a miracle," Webb said on "Good Morning America."

For five days, the two survived on one cereal bar and water that dripped from nearby rocks. Using thermal imaging, rescuers found the trapped miners and drilled a narrow pipe through the rock bed to send them food, notes of encouragement, and iPods.

This was a huge help, considering the men had little in common and time passed slowly.

"It turns out we're complete opposites in terms of interest," Webb said.

Webb loves rock music while Russell is a fan of country and Western music. Webb smokes and loves fishing while Russell's a reformed smoker and loves to hunt but can't stand fishing.

The one thing they shared in common was off-limits.

"Our wives and families were the one thing we just couldn't bear to talk about," Webb said. "It was just much too painful for us to talk about what we might lose forever."

Free, at Last

Meanwhile, rescue teams dug an escape tunnel, at times by hand to avoid the narrow shaft from collapsing.

On the third day in the mine, after the duo felt a big tremor, the two made a pact.

"I said to Brant, 'If my legs get covered with more rock, would you be willing to cut them off for me with the Stanley knife?'" Russell said.

As the days merged into weeks, the miners had some doubts about surviving. They motivated each other.

"I never gave up hope but that's because Todd brainwashed me," Webb said. "He just kept on saying, kept on repeating, 'That it's always a search until bodies are found.'"

As a precaution, the two wrote farewell notes. Russell used his overall to keep a diary while Webb wrote a goodbye note on his smoke box, a protective cigarette container.

In times of desperation, a little humor went a long way.

"He basically said that, 'If I didn't shut up with my bad thoughts, he was going to kiss me,'" Webb said. "The thought of Todd kissing me -- especially because we were covered with so much dirt -- was enough to shut me up."

Two weeks after it all began, all of Australia watched as the two walked out of the gold mine looking vigorous and healthy.

Even the Australian media remained amazed at the miraculous ending to the mining drama.

"Everybody [in] Australia was watching on television because they knew that eventually these two guys were going to appear," said Robert Penfold, Channel 9 News correspondent. "They walked out. They waved. They threw their hands in the air, and Australians really rejoiced with them."

Upon walking out -- they insisted with the paramedics that they would walk out -- and hugging their families, both requested a bacon and egg sandwich.

The small-town miners had become worldwide heroes.

"I live my life to the fullest," Russell said. "I don't for a minute intend to change the way I am because of money or anything else."

As for Webb, he's returning to his job-- but on one condition.

"What I can tell you is that while I will go back to work at the mine, there's no way I'm going underground ever again."