Quecreek Mine rescue

The Quecreek Mine Rescue began on July 24, 2002 at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania when coal miners accidentally dug into abandoned, neighboring mine whose location was poorly documented. The abandoned mine was filled with between 50 and 60 million gallons of water which began pouring into Quecreek.

Trapped 240 feet underground, a group of nine miners used the mine's phone system to notify another group of nine to evacuate the mine immediately.

In the days that followed rescue holes were drilled, including one 30 inches in diameter through which a rescue cage would eventually be lowered.

All nine were rescued in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 28, 2002.