Chilean Miners Almost Free

[furple]

The first of the Chilean Miners expected to be free within the next hour.
The rescue will entail a pod that will be lowered by cable...over 600 meters below ground.
Apparently significant risks involved. good luck and god bless.

[VLS]

God bless and a good exit to them.

[ADulay]

This has got to be one of the top stories of 2010.   Simply an amazing feat of endurance, skill and teamwork.

Just think about what these guys have gone through.

Just incredible and I salute all who participated in the recovery.

Wow.

AD

[iggiv]

all is good that has happy end

[ThomasGrant]

It is good to hear...

They miners may even become national heroes.
Or TV stars. And get lots of offers.
Same thing happened to the miners that got trapped in a mine in Tasmania.

[Twisteruk]

Dear God I hope they make it safely to the surface after being trapped all this time.

[ThomasGrant]

Dear God I hope they make it safely to the surface after being trapped all this time.

Just heard the news today...
Two of the miners are out.

[Twisteruk]

Ah that is good to hear !

Thank you for the update Thomas 

[Twisteruk]

Here is a News report from the BBC;



"The first five of 33 miners trapped underground for more than two months in northern Chile have been winched to the surface amid scenes of jubilation.

Florencio Avalos was first to be freed, at 0010 local time (0310 GMT).

He was greeted by family and hugged by President Sebastian Pinera. Also to emerge were the only non-Chilean, Bolivian national Carlos Mamani, and the youngest miner, Jimmy Sanchez.

In an address at the mine, Mr Pinera declared the rescue a miracle.

Officials say they should be able to rescue one miner each hour.

Thumbs-up

The rescue operation began shortly after 2315 local time (0215 GMT) with a technical expert, Manuel Gonzalez, being lowered down the 624m (2,047ft) rescue shaft.

Mr Gonzalez was supposed to return to the surface and report on the condition of the shaft, and then repeat the journey, 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.

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 and then given time with his family.

President Pinera described how lovely it was to see Mr Avalos's sons greet their father, especially seven-year-old Bairon.

The second miner freed, Mario Sepulveda, reached the surface about an hour later.

BBC Mundo's Rodrigo Bustamante says Mr Sepulveda appeared in perfect physical and emotional condition. He demonstrated an amazing sense of humour before running towards a group of rescuers and leading them in singing. He brought with him a bag of souvenir rocks from the bottom of the mine.

Shortly after, in a televised interview, Mr Sepulveda said his faith in God had sustained him and that he had had full confidence he would be rescued.

Bolivian President Evo Morales is expected to arrive at the mine later on Wednesday to meet Carlos Mamani.

Mr Mamani kissed his waiting wife Veronica and shouted: "Gracias, Chile!"

Jimmy Sanchez, the youngest miner at 19 and the father of a four-month-old baby, had only been working at the mine for five months and had been showing signs of anxiety.

In his address, President Pinera thanked the technical experts who had made the rescue possible and said this 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 it is capable of, when we face adversity."

But the president added: "This won't be over until all 33 are out."

The first four rescued miners have now been flown by helicopter to hospital in the nearby city of Copiapo.

Doctors there said that initial reports suggested there were no major health issues.

Outside the hospital, barriers have been set up to cope with the crowds of onlookers and journalists.

Reinforced shaft

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 included some of the most psychologically stable and experienced of the miners, in case something went wrong during the rescue.

Next would be those who were weakest or ill, they said.

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."

[Twisteruk]

Here is a link to the latest BBC News Update


link:://:.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11539182