Rescue close for miners, 12th day

TASMANIA'S two trapped miners have spent their 12th night deep in the Beaconsfield gold mine, but hopes are high that they'll be freed today.

The pair, Todd Russell, 34, and Brant Webb, 37, spent several hours yesterday grouting rock crevices they could reach from their cramped cage almost a kilometre underground to minimise the risk of rock being disturbed when their rescuers finally break through.

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