On 25 April 2006, a rock fall was reported at the Beaconsfield mine 40 km north-west of Launceston where 17 miners were working underground. Fourteen miners made it to a safety chamber and escaped unhurt. Three miners remained trapped and a large search and rescue mission was undertaken. The following day a remote-controlled heavy earth-moving loader fitted with two cameras began testing at the mine 925 m below the surface.

On 27 April, the loader removed an unmanned vehicle which was blocking access to the rock fall. Later that day, the loader started removing the first of two known rock falls in the mine. The loader then began working on the second rock fall area, where the three men were last seen. The body of a miner was found. The search continued for the two other miners. Rescue crews drilled a second shaft to reach the trapped miners.

On 30 April, the Beaconsfield Gold Mine announced rescue crews had made contact with the men and that they were alive. On 9 May, the two remaining miners were rescued and lifted from the mine where they had been trapped for 14 days in a confined space.

At the request of the Tasmanian Government, the Beaconsfield Investigation Report was prepared for the Coroner and delivered in August 2007.