The pair were stranded more than 150 metres down the shaft for nine hours after
the lift broke down at the Tahmoor Coal Mine near Wollongong on Wednesday
evening.
The men were in good spirits as rescue crews communicated with them using
radios, a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman told AAP.
A small cage was lowered down late on Wednesday to inspect the elevator and
begin the operation involving four FRNSW crews and specialist rescue squads.
"The employees reached the surface safe and well close to midnight, passing
medical checks before being reunited with their families," mine owners SIMEC
Mining said in a statement.
An investigation has begun into the cause of the incident and what improvements
can be made to ensure it doesn't happen again, the company said.
"SIMEC Mining would like to thank the emergency services crews and its own
employees who responded promptly to ensure a safe outcome."
