Millions worldwide watched and waited as rescuers worked around the clock to save nine men trapped in the flooded Quecreek mine, July 24-28, 2002, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
For 77 hours, rescuers faced setback after setback as they raced to bring all nine miners home alive. Miraculously, in the early morning hours of July 28, the miners were brought safely to the surface, one by one, “9 for 9.”
This year marks the 20-year anniversary of the Miracle Rescue at the Quecreek Mine with several special events planned to celebrate the rescue of nine coal miners.
The groundwater industry played a key role in the rescue efforts, particularly George A. Sonnie of Sunrise Drilling Supply Inc., a family business. Sonnie, of Sykesville, Pennsylvania, passed away on December 27, 2021.
Water Well Journal®’s award-winning coverage of the rescue appeared in the September and December 2002 issues. Editor Thad Plumley also visited the mine rescue site and wrote about it in the “Editor’s Note” in the October 2016 issue (see photos).
The mine rescue site is now a Pennsylvania Historic Landmark Site sitting on a working farm. Click here to learn more about the planned events to commemorate the anniversary.
— by Mike Price