Caller of the night: "I was the first man rescued after the Kaimai Tunnel collapsed" (24 February 2026)

·12 min·1 clip

Pat describes being the first man dug out after nine hours trapped in the collapsed Kaimai Tunnel.

The episode features a call-in interview with Pat, a survivor of the Kaimai Tunnel collapse in New Zealand. Pat introduces himself as the first man rescued after being trapped for about eight or nine hours. He explains he was working as a rigger after leaving the Merchant Navy and marrying a local woman. The collapse occurred while he and a colleague, Malcolm, were pumping grout to stop water ingress, which may have overloaded the wooden supports. During the collapse, Pat tried to run but was cut off by falling debris; he was saved because timber rested on electric motors, preventing him from being crushed. Rescuers, including Malcolm and others like Terry Jones, could hear Pat but not see him, and kept him talking during the nine-hour dig-out. Others were trapped on a top level for about two weeks with no communication, rescued through pipes drilled from the side. Four people died in the incident, and Pat suffered leg injuries but recovered after a couple of months. He returned to work on the tunnel for four years before transferring to other projects like the Huntly Power Station and Clyde Dam. Pat received compensation, and a plaque and museum now commemorate the tunnel and those who died. The discussion touches on the workforce of 200-250, mostly Kiwis with some from Ireland and Australia, and Pat's current life in Hamilton post-retirement. Marcus Lush guides the conversation with questions about the technical details, rescue efforts, and personal aftermath, highlighting the historical significance and human impact of the event.

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