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CHINESE EAT COAL AND DRINK THEIR PEE TO SURVIVE

somewhere in swamp-butt-mong Two Chinese brothers who tunnelled their way out of a coal mine collapse after being trapped for nearly six days survived by eating coal and drinking urine, according to a newspaper report.

Brothers Meng Xianchen and Meng Xianyou were trapped while working at an illegal mine in Beijing's Fangshan District late on August 18.

It was the latest in a series of disasters to strike the world's deadliest coal mining industry.

Two days later, rescue efforts were called off and relatives began burning "ghost money" at the entrance of the mine for the dearly departed.

But Mr Xianchen has told the Beijing News he and his brother were still alive, but hungry.

"At first there was no feeling, but then I was so hungry I couldn't crawl any more," he said.

"I got so hungry, I ate a piece of coal, and I thought it quite fragrant.

"Actually, coal is bitter and unsmooth but you can chew up pieces the size of a finger.

"In the mine, we picked up two discarded water bottles, and drank our urine. You can only take small sips, and when you've finished, you just want to cry."

He said because they were eating coal and were in the mine for nearly six days, they did not defecate.

"We were only able to do that the day before yesterday in hospital. It was full of coal," he said.

Both men say they will not go back into mining.

But their younger brother, Meng Xianjun, who has a decade of experience in the mines, says he will remain a miner.

Chinese mine owners regularly flout safety regulations to meet insatiable demand for a fuel powering the country's booming economy.