First Chile miners reach surface (watch video)

BBC

Chile, 13 October 2010: The first miner to be rescued was Florencio Avalos. Two of the 33 miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in northern Chile have been rescued. The first, Florencio Avalos, reached the surface to cheers at 0010 local time (0310 GMT), after being winched up a 624m (2,047ft) shaft in a capsule.

 

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Mr Avalos was greeted on the surface by his wife and young son, and was hugged by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. Next to emerge was Mario Sepulveda. In an address at the mine, Mr Pinera declared the first rescue a miracle. Smiling broadly, he thanked the technical experts who had made it possible and said it was a night of emotion.

 

Recalling the devastating earthquake that struck Chile in February, he said the miners had shown that "when Chile is united, we are capable of doing great things". "This country shows its true soul, shows what is capable of, when we face adversity." But the president added: "This won’t be over until all 33 are out."

 

 

 

The rescue operation began shortly after 2315 local time (0215 GMT) with a technical expert, Manuel Gonzalez, being lowered down. Mr Gonzalez was supposed to return to the surface and report on the condition of the rescue shaft, before handing over to a paramedic.

 

However, a live video feed from the refuge where the miners were gathered showed Mr Avalos preparing to be winched up immediately. He was chosen to lead the way because he was one of the fittest of the miners. A minute after the "Phoenix" capsule reached the top of the rescue shaft, Mr Avalos stepped out and was greeted by his family, rescuers and the president and the first lady, Cecilia Morel. He smiled widely.

 

 

Bystanders cheered and clapped, and then started chanting "Chile". Mr Avalos gave a thumbs-up before being taken in an ambulance to a medical triage centre. When he has been cleared by doctors there, he will be have time with his family. A second capsule carrying Roberto Ros, a paramedic with the Chilean navy’s special forces, was later sent down to the miners refuge.

 

Mr Sepulveda reached the surface about an hour later. After hugging his wife, he jubilantly handed souvenir rocks to laughing rescuers. Officials said they believed they should be able to rescue one miner each hour, and that it would take about 48 hours to complete the operation.

 

 

Bolivian President Evo Morales is also expected to arrive at San Jose to greet Carlos Mamani, a Bolivian national and the only non-Chilean in the group. He is scheduled to be the fourth miner brought to the surface. During their journey to the surface, the miners are wearing a "bio-harness" designed for astronauts, which will monitor their heart rate, breathing, temperature and oxygen consumption.

 

The top of the shaft has been reinforced with metal casing to prevent crumbling surface rocks from breaking away during the rescue. Experts said the rest of the escape shaft was dug through solid rock and would not break up. Officials said the first few men to be winched to the surface would include some of the most psychologically stable and experienced of the miners, in case something goes wrong during the first few rescues.

 

Next would be those who are weakest or ill, the added. One miner suffers from hypertension. Another is a diabetic, and others have dental and respiratory infections or skin lesions caused by the humidity in the mine. After they have been reunited with their families, the miners will be flown to the hospital in the nearby city of Copiapo, which is on standby to receive them. Outside the hospital, barriers have been set up to cope with the crowds of onlookers and journalists.

 

The miners will wear a "bio-harness" designed for astronauts, which will monitor their heart rate, breathing, temperature and oxygen consumption. The top of the shaft has been reinforced with metal casing to prevent crumbling surface rocks from breaking away during the rescue. Experts said the rest of the escape shaft was dug through solid rock and would not break up.

 

Officials said the first few men to be winched to the surface would include some of the most psychologically stable and experienced of the miners, in case something goes wrong during the first few rescues.