Miners' release date uncertain, As the trapped men spent their 11th night underground

Graphic: Timeline of events

Faithful: Labrador waits patiently for master

Harley's vigil for his master
From: May 05, 2006

AMID the devastation at the Beaconsfield gold mine is the curious tale of Harley the labrador.According to locals he has been keeping a vigil for his missing master Todd Russell.
The loyal dog has been seen at the mine gates every day since Anzac Day when Mr Russell left for work and did not return.

Journalists and cameramen have shooed Harley away believing him to be a stray. But locals have been touched by his habit of turning up at the mine.

Mr Russell, buried under hundreds of tonnes of rock a kilometre below the surface, lives with his wife Caroline, three children and Harley just 200m from the gold mine.

When The Daily Telegraph visited Harley at home yesterday, he was being kept inside.

"Apparently the lab has been hanging around the gates since it happened, but the family has decided to keep him out of the way from now on," a local said.

Harley's story was first raised by Australian Workers Union boss Bill Shorten, who described it as a heartwarming tale amid the emotional highs and lows outside the Beaconsfield gold mine.