Freed miners at workmate's funeral

Rescued miner Todd Russell arrives at Launceston Hospital. Picture / Reuters

Freed Tasmanian miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell were this afternoon attending the funeral of their workmate Larry Knight, who died in the initial rockfall a fortnight ago.

The two men were freed this morning after being trapped a kilometre underground for 14 days.

Russell arrived shortly after the start of the funeral service, the AAP news agency reported. He walked with a visible limp from a car to the church.

Paramedics were at the church and an ambulance was parked otside.

Mr Knight's family had delayed his funeral until today, in the hope the men would be freed in time.

The miners spent three hours in hospital this morning being checked by doctors. They are reported to be in good health, with only cuts and bruises to show for their ordeal.

They were well enough to walk out of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine and greet their loved ones earlier this morning.

Small cards with "The Great Escape" written on them were passed to the pair's rescuers immediately afterwards.

"To all who have helped and supported us and our families, we cannot wait to shake your hand and shout you a Sustagen. Thanks is not enough," the cards said.

They were signed Brant and Todd.

Newstalk ZB reported the men as saying they would not be retuning to work at the mine.

Dr Stephen Ayre, chief executive of Launceston General Hospital, told reporters the pair were in good physical condition.

AAP reported that Dr Ayre said: "My understanding is that everything is looking pretty good at this moment.

"I think the important thing is that they actually pay their respects to their colleague, as a point of closure and moving on from the situation that they've been in."

He said doctors were most concerned about how the men would cope over the coming days.

"I think the issue will be any untoward side affects that might occur outside of the more controlled environment,'' Dr Ayre said.

"The psychologists are obviously advising us on that, and that will be an issue that we will need to watch."

Blood tests and x-rays had been taken, and the pair would soon have the results.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has phoned the miners to congratulate them on their survival.

Mr Howard said he congratulated them on "a remarkable feat of endurance".

The miners were trapped a kilometre underground in a wire cage, about the size of a double bed, on April 25 after a cave-in caused by an earthquake at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine on the southern island of Tasmania.

"If one rolled over the other had to roll over," said psychologist Bev Bernst who talked to the miners throughout the rescue operation.

"They have different personalities and they balanced each other. Their resilience was just amazing."

Dr Knight said the miners wished to expres their thanks to rescuers and well wishers. "They have asked us to pass on to you their jubilation with being out of the mine" he said.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB