Oct. 14: Chile’s 33 newly rescued miners recovered from their ordeal on Thursday while also pondering the celebrity status they have gained following a more than two-month entrapment deep under a remote desert. Most of the miners were found to be in decent health despite being stuck in a collapsed mine tunnel since August 5.
The men were resting in a hospital after being hoisted to the surface in a rescue operation watched by millions worldwide. However, one of the miners had pneumonia and was being treated with antibiotics. In a complicated but flawless operation under the far northern desert of the South American nation, the miners were hauled out one-by-one through 2,050 feet of rock in a metal capsule little wider than a man’s shoulders.
With much of the world transfixed on television, celebrations erupted in Chile. The trapped miners, who set a world record for survival underground, were welcomed as national heroes. It took about 22 hours from the time the first miner was brought to the surface until the last miner was pulled to freedom late on Wednesday, and then another roughly 2-1/2 hours until the last of the six rescuers also emerged from the gold and copper mine early on Thursday.
“It’s so incredible that they all made it out alive,” Mr Luis Pina, a 51-year-old miner, hugging a perfect stranger as he celebrated in the main square in Copiapo where thousands of people cheered and waved red, white and blue Chilean flags. Despite the suffering they went through, the previously unknown miners now have plenty to look forward to if they want to take up the offers open to them.
Among a flood of invitations and gifts, Real Madrid and Manchester United have invited the miners — many of whom are avid soccer fans — to watch them play in Europe. A flamboyant local singer-turned-businessman has given them $10,000 each, while the Apple boss, Ms Steve Jobs, has sent them all a latest iPod and a Greek firm has offered an islands tour.
Most of the miners are unlikely to return to their old employment, with various job offers, plus book and film contracts, coming their way in the wake of their experience. The Chilean President, Mr Sebastian Pinera, whose popularity has risen over his handling of the crisis, was at the San Jose mine in the Atacama desert to greet each man as he emerged and plans to host them at his palace in the capital Santiago.