The Todd and Brant Show

Despite the corny title, “The Great Escape”, and my normal principle of refusing to watch the products of chequebook journalism, I couldn’t resist watching what Todd Russell and Brant Webb had to say about their experiences trapped in the Beaconsfield gold mine for 14 days.

They had a compelling story to tell, but I don’t think much was revealed on TV last night.  Sure, we learnt a few things that hadn’t come out already, and it is clear that they were in dire trouble the first few hours, and they have suffered more significant injuries than had been reported, but the program was really lacking in photos or video footage from inside the mine - that would have really made it interesting, but I suppose thats all tied up until coronial and other inquiries have run their course.  Pity that, even a teaser to show us what it was like would have made all the difference.

I’ve heard the two miners called “heroes”.  Are they really?  I wouldn’t have said so. They are certainly tough, resourceful and survivors.  It truly was quite an amazing triumph of will to live and mental strength.  I think we bandy the term “hero” around too easily.  At the end of the day, Russell and Webb were damn lucky to survive the initial rockfall, and then showed remarkable resilience and will to last first through the 5 or 6 days until they were found (this would be the toughest time, I would have thought, alone and not knowing if you’d ever get out) and then for the week and a bit until they were then rescued.

Did Channel 9 get their $2.6m worth?  They seem to believe so.

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