Missing Polish coal miner found alive more than two days after an earthquake

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A miner who was reported missing after an earthquake shook Poland's Rydultowy coal mine has been found alive more than two days after the accident that killed one of his colleagues and injured another 17, local officials said Saturday.

The miner has been airlifted to hospital and the rescue operation has been closed, said Witold Gałązka of the coal mining group that operates the mine.

Earlier, the office of the provincial governor of the Silesia coal mining region, in southern Poland, said that the miner was conscious and was being transported to the surface.

“This is fantastic news,” provincial governor Marek Wojcik said on TVN24.

The head of the Polish Coal Mining Group that operates the mine, Leszek Pietraszek, said that rescuers reached the 32-year-old miner around 2 p.m. Saturday. He was conscious and communicating, but had some problems breathing. He received first aid from a doctor who also prepared him for transportation to the surface.

Hundreds of rescuers took part in the operation and at times had to be withdrawn from the corridor when more tremors were threatened or due to dangerous methane gas levels. The rescuers had to hand-sift through the rubble to reach the miner, authorities said.

Seventy-eight miners were in the area when a magnitude 3.1 tremor struck about 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) below the surface on Thursday afternoon.

One miner, aged 41, was killed and 17 were hospitalized with injuries. Thirteen of the injured have since been released from the hospital.

The tremor caused an ejection of rocks into the corridor at one spot, where the miner was found Saturday.

The mining group has suffered several deadly accidents this year. In May, three miners died in a cave-in at the Myslowice-Wesola colliery, and one was killed at the same mine in April.

Two miners lost their lives in separate accidents in 2019 and 2020 in the Rydultowy mine, which was opened in 1792 and currently employs about 2,000 miners.

Coal mining is considered hazardous in Poland, where some mines are prone to methane gas explosions or to cave-ins. Excavation in older mines goes deep into the ground in the search for coal, increasing the job’s hazards. The coal industry is among Poland’s key employers, providing some 75,000 jobs.

Last year, 15 miners lost their lives in accidents.

An ambulance heads into the Rydultowy coal mine near the city of Rybnik, in southern Poland, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Officials say that two Polish coal miners remain unaccounted for and at least 15 have been injured after a powerful tremor shook the Rydultowy coal mine. Rescuers are struggling to reach dozens of others. (AP Photo/Katarzyna Zaremba-Majcher)

An airborne ambulance near the Rydultowy coal mine near the city of Rybnik, in southern Poland, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Officials say that two Polish coal miners remain unaccounted for and at least 15 have been injured after a powerful tremor shook the Rydultowy coal mine. Rescuers are struggling to reach dozens of others. (AP Photo/Katarzyna Zaremba-Majcher)

Rescuers transport an injured miner to an airborne ambulance near the Rydultowy coal mine near the city of Rybnik, in southern Poland, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Two Polish coal miners were unaccounted for and at least 15 were injured after a powerful tremor shook the Rydultowy coal mine about 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) underground on Thursday, officials said. Rescuers struggled to reach about two dozen others. (AP Photo/Katarzyna Zaremba-Majcher)

Missing Polish coal miner found alive more than two days after an earthquake

Missing Polish coal miner found alive more than two days after an earthquake

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Azzi Fudd banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key in the first half of the Final Four. When the shot from UConn's standout senior guard went in, coach Geno Auriemma lifted his arms above him — a small celebration of what was shaping up to be Fudd's best offensive half of the women's NCAA Tournament.

It didn't take Fudd long to assert herself Friday against UCLA in her first national semifinal since 2022 during her freshman season, as injuries had forced her to watch the Huskies' last Final Four run from the bench.

She scored all of her 19 points in the first half, almost more than UCLA's entire team (22) during that span, and she wasn't needed much in the second.

UConn beat UCLA 85-51, and it was never really close. The Huskies will play defending champion South Carolina in Sunday's final after a stellar first-half performance from the sharpshooter who has battled numerous injuries to get there.

“Tonight was a lot of fun," Fudd said. "It was so hard watching last year. And I try to remember what that was like, because it was difficult. I was trying to be their biggest supporter, but ... all you want to do is be able to be on the court with them and be able to contribute. So tonight I just wanted to have fun, and that’s exactly what I got to do.”

Fudd worked her way back this year after tearing the medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee in November 2023. It was a long rehab process that included help from four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, whose team of trainers collaborated with the UConn medical staff to create benchmarks and tests for Fudd to complete before returning to the court.

After only playing two games in 2023-24, Fudd averaged 13.1 points this season, shooting a career-high 46.8% from the field and 44.1% from 3-point range, also a career high and best in the Big East.

Fudd finished in double figures in each of the Huskies' first three games of the tournament, including 27 points, seven assists and six steals against Arkansas State in the first round. Her worst game of the tournament was the one that sent UConn to the Final Four — an eight-point performance on 3-for-14 shooting in a 78-64 win over Southern California in the Elite Eight in Spokane, Washington.

“I left that in Spokane," she said. "So Tampa was a new me. It’s March, it’s the Final Four. You can’t keep any of that with you. It’s every game is a new game. Even each quarter, every possession is a new possession.”

Fudd said her goal on Friday was to be aggressive. She had a steal and a layup in the game's opening minutes and knocked down three 3-pointers.

Her impact on one of the nation's most dominant teams was evident well before Friday's national semifinal. UConn improved to 67-8 in games she plays, 30-1 when she makes at least three 3-pointers and 25-1 when she scores at least 15 points.

“Azzi has worked her butt off to get to this point,” said star senior Paige Bueckers, who scored a quiet 16 points on Friday. "Just the adversity she’s been through. All the ups and downs, the highs and lows. You see all the good days, all the bad. But you work to get back to these moments and to shine on this stage, and to be your best self.

"For her to just have that smile, have that joy, and just to be loose and playing her best basketball is very rewarding.”

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

From left, UConn forward Sarah Strong (21), guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard Azzi Fudd (35) react during the second half of a national semifinal Final Four game against UCLA during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) shoots against UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) during the second half of a national semifinal Final Four game during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) is greeted by teammates as she comes off the floor during a break in play against UCLA during the second half of a national semifinal Final Four game during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) puts up a shot against UCLA guard Londynn Jones (3) during the first half of a national semifinal Final Four game during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) goes up for a shot against UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) during the first half of a national semifinal Final Four game during the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)