Wife's message judged too sensitive for trapped miner

Locals pay their respects outside of Beaconsfield mine. Sean Garnsworthy / Getty Images

BEACONSFIELD - A heartfelt message from a woman to her husband trapped in a Tasmanian mine has been considered too sensitive to be played to him.

Rachael Webb recorded the message to be played down a pipe to her husband Brant, who has been trapped 925m underground for eight days with fellow miner Todd Russell.

The idea was to lift his spirits but the mine's psychologist advised against playing it to him, it was reported on the news.com website yesterday.

Mrs Webb was told that the message may have the opposite effect than intended at this stage.

Michael Kelly, Mr Webb's father-in-law, said: "We just thought it would be nice if Rachael could give him some encouragement because the next 48 hours are going to be critical."

Mr Kelly did not say what his daughter's message contained.

The psychological wellbeing of the trapped men is a strong focus for the authorities engineering the rescue but their state of mind so far has been described as "remarkable".

Tasmanian Medical Retrieval Services director Andrew Hughes said their experiences as miners have helped them survive conditions which many ordinary people would not be able to cope with.

"They're in remarkably good shape by virtue of the fact they're miners, trained in how to operate in these circumstances," Dr Hughes said. "They are in remarkable condition, physically and psychologically, at this time."

Beaconsfield Gold Mine manager Matthew Gill said the men were in good spirits " ... but obviously they have been there for quite a while".

They have been given clothes, a cover to stop water leaking into the cage, torches, spare batteries, a nutritional drink and vitamins, all sent down a 90mm plastic pipe.

They were also sent reading material, which One News last night reported to include "a couple of men's magazines". "Their regular conversation is quite cheeky," Mr Gill said.

- AGENCIES