RESCUERS fighting to free four miners trapped 295ft (90m) underground said last night that they believe they are all alive and well.

The miners were named by South Wales Police as Phillip Hill, 45, Charles Bresnan, 62, David Powell, 50, and Garry Jenkins, 39.

A fifth miner remains critically ill in hospital after escaping as flood water engulfed the drift mine this morning.

Two others who were with him escaped largely unharmed and are aiding the rescue operation.

The alarm was raised at the Gleision Colliery, near Cilybebyll in Pontardawe, Swansea, South Wales, at around 9.20am.

A retaining wall holding back a body of water underground failed, flooding a tunnel that the seven men were in.

It left four men trapped at a depth of 295ft (90m).

No contact has yet been made with the men, but rescuers believe the four, all fit and healthy seasoned miners, would have fled to an air pocket to await rescue.

Chris Margetts, from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said rescuers were “hopeful and optimistic” that the miners could be freed successfully.