Two Australian miners who were freed after 14 days being trapped deep underground survived by drinking dirty run-off water, digging through rock and rubble with their bare hands, and joking about their fight for life, rescuers said.

Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, walked free of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine on Tuesday after a cave-in on April 25 killed a third miner, Larry Knight.

Heroic effort of their night shift supervisor, Gavin Cheesman, helped to rescue the two.

Against orders, Cheesman climbed over the rockfall which entombed them 925 meters (3,000 feet) underground and dropped a glove through the rubble to the two men.

Rescuers had to drill, grind and blast rock to reach Webb and Russell which could have led to further rockfalls.

A cave-in had pinned Russell's left leg. In almost total darkness, with only his miner's lamp to guide, Webb dug for four and half hours through rock and rubble to free Russell's leg, rescuer Dean Mackrell said.

"They both looked after one another. They'll have a special bond forever," said Mackrell.