Trapped Workers Rescued After 60 Hours in B.C. Mine, Reunited with Families

Three mine workers trapped underground for more than 60 hours at the Red Chris mine in northern British Columbia were safely rescued late Thursday night and are now being reunited with their families.

“Their arrival was a moment of relief for everyone involved,” said Bernard Wessels, head of safety at Newmont Corp., the company that operates the mine. “We are deeply relieved that all three individuals are safe, in good health, and in good spirits.”

The rescue took place at 10:40 p.m. PT on Thursday. The workers — Kevin Coumbs of Ontario, Darien Maduke of B.C., and Jesse Chubaty of Manitoba — had been trapped since Tuesday morning when two rockfalls occurred in the underground portion of the Red Chris mine, located on Tahltan Nation territory near Dease Lake.

After the first collapse, the drillers were able to confirm by radio that they had reached a steel refuge chamber stocked with emergency supplies. A second collapse shortly afterward severed communications.

Excavation of debris began Thursday evening, and crews used a remote-controlled scoop to clear a pile approximately 20 to 30 metres long and up to eight metres high. Once the path was secure, a protective vehicle transported the workers to the surface one by one.

“This was a carefully planned and meticulously executed rescue,” said Wessels. He noted that the workers were in good spirits and even joked that the ordeal gave them a chance to catch up on sleep. Newmont has offered counselling support and committed to a full investigation into the incident.

The refuge chamber, designed to support up to 16 people, was located roughly 284 metres below the surface and about 700 metres from the rockfalls. Specialized drones were used to assess underground stability before initiating the rescue.

The mine's underground operations have been temporarily paused while investigations proceed. Newmont has pledged to conduct an internal review and share findings across the mining sector, in addition to cooperating with the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, which is also investigating.

Premier David Eby praised the rescue, calling it a result of “heroic work” and commending the “remarkable courage” of the three drillers.

The Red Chris mine, primarily an open-pit operation, is currently expanding into underground block-cave mining to increase ore extraction capacity. The site is one of several B.C. mining projects being prioritized amid global supply chain shifts and trade challenges.