We now know one of the men who dug the world famous tunnel near York University.

22 year old construction worker, Elton McDonald, has told his story to the Toronto Sun’s Joe Warmington.

McDonald claims he was the “main digger” on the project which began two years ago, while some close friends assisted.  He says he’s lived in the Driftwood neighbourhood of Toronto all his life and says it was something he always wanted to do and it ended up being a fun project for him and some friends.

He also says he mother was proud of the work he accomplished but wants people to know he didn’t build it for “nefarious reasons.”  In fact, he wanted to expand the hideout and add a couple of rooms and a television.

As for the poppy and rosary that was found by investigators in the tunnel, McDonald said the rosary was given to him by his sister and he put it down there for protection in the event of a collapse, which he says did happen once.  And the poppy he found on Remembrance Day.

McDonald jokes that he’d like to build something like that again, but on his own property one day.