ISKUT, British Columbia (AP) — Three workers who were trapped at a gold and copper mine in Western Canada have been rescued after more than 60 hours underground.
Red Chris mine operator Newmont Corp. said the three men were safely brought to the surface late Thursday after being trapped underground by two rockfalls Tuesday morning.
Kevin Coumbs, Darien Maduke and Jesse Chubaty, contractors for Canada based Hy-Tech Drilling, were in good health and spirits, it added.
“This was a carefully planned and meticulously executed rescue plan,” Newmont said in a statement.
The company, based in Denver, said the rescue operation involved drones and a remote-controlled scoop that dug away a massive rockfall, estimated to be 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) long and seven to eight meters (22 to 26 feet) high.
Once the fallen debris was cleared from the access tunnel, an emergency response team was able to reach the refuge chamber where the men were trapped and bring them to the surface.
It said the workers were being supported by medical and wellness teams and their families had been notified.
Newmont said that the men had consistent access to food, water and air while in the refuge chamber of the mine. The mine is in remote northern British Columbia, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) north of Vancouver.
British Columbia’s Mining and Critical Minerals Minister Jagrup Brar said in a social media post that he “can’t describe the relief we all feel knowing that these three workers are going to be able to go home to their families.”
The rescue came hours after Newmont’s global safety chief, Bernard Wessels, expressed confidence in the rescue.
He said that drones had flown over the debris blockage at the mine and found a stable route to the steel safety refuge where the men were sheltering.
The Tatogga Lake Resort is shown on the roadside close to the entrance of the Red Chris mine near Iskut, British Columbia, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Dave Middleton/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Tatogga Lake Resort is shown on the roadside close to the entrance of the Red Chris Mine near Iskut, British Columbia, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Dave Middleton/The Canadian Press via AP)
PARIS (AP) — Sipping tea every night is working wonders for Maja Chwalinska.
The Polish player became just the second qualifier to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era when she beat Diana Shnaider of Russia 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Chwalinska can match Emma Raducanu’s title run at the 2021 U.S. Open when she plays Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Saturday's final at Roland Garros.
Nothing will change Chwalinska's routine for the biggest match of her life.
“I’m going to drink my tea,” she said.
Chwalinska and Raducanu, according to stats provider Opta, stand alone among men and women in having reached a major singles final from the qualifying rounds since the Open Era began in 1968.
“I feel like I am in a bubble, I don’t know what’s going on,” Chwalinska said. “After the tournament it will be time to process it: breathe in, breathe out.”
Besides the tea, she might watch some tennis "because I’m a tennis freak.”
She said her favorite player growing up was Swiss great Roger Federer, then Spanish clay-court ace Rafael Nadal. Now it's 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic.
“I'm just very grateful that I was growing up during this era,” she said. "Sometimes I come back to these old matches and I watch them play, and it feels like poetry.”
Chwalinska sealed victory on her first match point with a powerful forehand winner down the line, then fell back with both hands on her face. She then sat on her chair and panted heavily, her face buried into a towel.
“I honestly don’t know what was going on in my head,” she said. “I was just in such a shock.”
Chwalinska's run saw her advance through three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw and play in just her third Grand Slam. Her best result at a major before this was the second round at Wimbledon in 2022. Polish countrywoman Iga Swiatek has won the French Open four times.
The 19-year-old Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam final by beating Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 earlier Thursday on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Andreeva had reached the semifinals here two years ago, but this is Chwalinska’s first semifinal anywhere at WTA tour-level.
Chwalinksa has dropped only one set in her nine matches, including qualifying, and has bulldozed her way past four top-50 players in the main draw.
Her ranking will rocket from No. 114 to No. 14 if she wins the tournament, according to the WTA.
Her bank balance will also get a significant boost. Chwalinksa's total prize money heading into Roland Garros was $864,030 and by reaching the final she gets 1.4 million euros about ($1.6 million); and 2.8 million euros ($3.25 million) if she wins on Saturday.
A neat drop shot and lob gave her set point in the tiebreaker, and she clinched the first set when Shnaider’s backhand went wide.
Shnaider had a medical timeout after the seventh game of the second set. She flexed her left leg as she lay on her back, and dropped her serve in the ninth game, giving Chwalinksa a chance to serve for the match.
“All the kudos to Maja. She played amazing," Shnaider said. “She moves incredible on the court, she covers a lot. Even if you think that you won the point, she’s there.”
Andreeva could see even the smallest details on the ball.
“I was seeing the little hairs on the ball when I was tossing or playing (shots),” Andreeva said. “I was really, really focused today.”
Andreeva, who is seeded No. 8, also converted her first match point when serving for the victory.
She clearly feels comfortable at the French Open, which she describes as a “cozy” tournament because she sees familiar faces every year, and enjoys her time in Paris.
“I really like to walk around the city, to go into those little restaurants on the street,” she said. “I also speak a little bit of French, so I try to sometimes talk to people in French.”
There was no post-match handshake between Andreeva and Kostyuk — and the Ukrainian walked off quickly, turning only to wave and blow kisses to the crowd.
They had separate photos taken before the match as they each stood next to two children on their respective side of the net. Usually the players pose for the same photo, standing right next to each other by the net.
Kostyuk and countrywoman Oleksandra Oliynykova have spoken out during the tournament about the impact Russia's invasion of Ukraine is having on their country.
The No. 15-seeded Kostyuk said defeat won't linger given how much support she felt from fans.
“This is something I will carry with me forever,” she said. “I feel like this is the highlight of my tournament."
The semifinal began at shortly after 3 p.m. with an open roof, like on Wednesday when beaten quarterfinalists Aryna Sabalenka and Anna Kalinskaya complained of swirling wind on Chatrier and said the roof should have been closed.
It was closed toward the end of the second set of Thursday's semifinal, offering Kostyuk better conditions for her clay-court game. But her 16-match winning streak on clay ended.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Poland's Maja Chwalinska reacts after winning the semifinal tennis match against Russia's Diana Shnaider at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Poland's Maja Chwalinska reacts after winning the semifinal tennis match against Russia's Diana Shnaider at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Poland's Maja Chwalinska react after winning during the semifinal tennis match against Russia's Diana Shnaider at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Russia's Mirra Andreeva poses with children while Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk refused to join before the semifinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk walks off the court after the semifinal tennis match against Russia's Mirra Andreeva at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Russia's Mirra Andreeva reacts after winning during the semifinal tennis match against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Fans supprtUkraine's Marta Kostyuk during the semifinal tennis match against Russia's Mirra Andreeva at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Russia's Mirra Andreeva reacts after winning the semifinal tennis match against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Russia's Mirra Andreeva returns to Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk during the senifinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk serves to Russia's Mirra Andreeva during the semifinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Russia's Mirra Andreeva poses with children while Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk refused during teh senifinal tennis tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
