WATCH LIVE: Rescue Underway to Retreive Trapped Chilean Mine Workers
- Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:40pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Watch live coverage of the rescue here:
SAN JOSE MINE, Chile (AP) — A rescuer in a missile-like escape capsule was lowered down a nearly half-mile tunnel in the Chilean desert Tuesday night to bring 33 miners to fresh air and freedom after 69 days — the longest anyone has ever been trapped underground and survived.
Mine rescue expert Manuel Gonzalez grinned and made the sign of the cross as he was lowered into the shaft. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera wished him good luck and urged him to bring the miners up in good shape.
Gonzalez made it to the bottom of the shaft apparently without incident and entered the chamber where the miners waited for their first human contact in more than two months.
A rescue expert with the state copper company Codelco, Gonzalez will be followed by Roberto Ros, a paramedic with the Chilean navy’s special forces. Together they will prepare the miners for their rescue — expected to take as many as 36 hours for all to surface.
Rescue workers, the president and his ministers then sang the national anthem and chanted “Chi, Chi, Chi, Le, Le, Le” — the country’s name — while horns honked and people cheered in the tent camp below.
In the family camp outside the mine, relatives of Florencio Avalos, the miner chosen to come up first, cheered, sang and prayed.
“We made a promise to never surrender, and we kept it,” Pinera said earlier as he waited to greet the miners, whose endurance and unity captivated the world as Chile meticulously prepared their rescue.
Mining Minister Laurence Golborne said he hoped the first of the miners would still emerge before midnight, a slow process because of the need for methodical testing with a rescue worker inside once all the cables are attached and tested.
Avalos, the 31-year-old second-in-command of the miners, has been so shy that he volunteered to handle the camera rescuers sent down so he wouldn’t have to appear on the videos that the miners sent up.
The last miner out is also decided: Shift foreman Luis Urzua, whose leadership was credited for helping the men endure 17 days with no outside contact after the collapse. The men made 48 hours’ worth of rations last before rescuers reached them with a narrow borehole to send down more food.
Janette Marin, sister-in-law of miner Dario Segovia, said the order of rescue didn’t matter. “What matters is that he is getting out, that they are all getting out.
“This won’t be a success unless they all get out,” she added, echoing the solidarity that the miners and people across Chile have expressed.
The paramedics can change the order of rescue based on a brief medical check once they’re in the mine. First out will be those best able to handle any difficulties and tell their comrades what to expect. Then, the weakest and the ill — in this case, about 10 suffer from hypertension, diabetes, dental and respiratory infections and skin lesions from the mine’s oppressive humidity. The last should be people who are both physically fit and strong of character.
Chile has taken extensive precautions to ensure the miners’ privacy, using a screen to block the top of the shaft from the more than 1,000 journalists at the scene.
The miners will be ushered through an inflatable tunnel, like those used in sports stadiums, to an ambulance for a trip of several hundred yards (meters) to a triage station for a medical check. They will gather with a few relatives in an area also closed to the media, before being taken by helicopter to a hospital.
Each ride up the shaft is expected to take about 20 minutes, and authorities expect they can haul up one miner per hour. When the last man surfaces, it promises to end a national crisis that began when 700,000 tons of rock collapsed Aug. 5, sealing the miners into the lower reaches of the mine.
The only media allowed to record them coming out of the shaft will be a government photographer and Chile’s state TV channel, whose live broadcast will be delayed by 30 seconds or more to prevent the release of anything unexpected. Photographers and camera operators are on a platform more than 300 feet (90 meters) away.
The worst technical problem that could happen, rescue coordinator Andre Sougarett told The Associated Press, is that “a rock could fall,” potentially jamming the capsule partly up the shaft.
Panic attacks are the rescuers’ biggest concern. The miners will not be sedated — they need to be alert in case something goes wrong. If a miner must get out more quickly, rescuers will accelerate the capsule to a maximum 3 meters per second, Health Minister Jaime Manalich said.
The rescue attempt is risky simply because no one else has ever tried to extract miners from such depths, said Davitt McAteer, who directed the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration in the Clinton administration. A miner could get claustrophobic and do something to damage the capsule. Or a falling rock could wedge it in the shaft. Or the cable could get hung up. Or the rig that pulls the cable could overheat.
“You can be good and you can be lucky. And they’ve been good and lucky,” McAteer told the AP. “Knock on wood that this luck holds out for the next 33 hours.”
Golborne, whose management of the crisis has made him a media star in Chile, said authorities had already thought of everything.
“There is no need to try to start guessing what could go wrong. We have done that job,” Golborne said. “We have hundreds of different contingencies.”
As for the miners, Manalich said, “It remains a paradox — they’re actually much more relaxed than we are.”
Rescuers finished reinforcing the top of the 2,041-foot (622-meter) escape shaft Monday, and the 13-foot (four-meter) capsule descended flawlessly in tests. The capsule — the biggest of three built by Chilean navy engineers — was named Phoenix I for the mythical bird that rises from ashes. It is painted in the white, blue and red of the Chilean flag.
The miners were to be closely monitored from the moment they’re strapped in the capsule. They were given a high-calorie liquid diet donated by NASA, designed to keep them from vomiting as the rescue capsule rotates 10 to 12 times through curves in the 28-inch-diameter escape hole.
A small video camera is in the escape capsule, trained on each miner’s face for panic attacks. The miners will wear oxygen masks and have two-way voice communication.
Their pulse, skin temperature and respiration rate will be constantly measured through a biomonitor around their abdomens. To prevent blood clotting from the quick ascent, they took aspirin and will wear compression socks.
The miners will also wear sweaters because they’ll experience a shift in climate from about 90 degrees underground to near freezing on the surface after nightfall. Those coming out during daylight hours will wear sunglasses.
Engineers inserted steel piping at the top of the shaft, which is angled 11 degrees off vertical before plunging like a waterfall. Drillers had to curve the shaft to pass through “virgin” rock, narrowly avoiding collapsed areas and underground open spaces in the overexploited mine, which had operated since 1885.
Seconds before each miner surfaces, a siren will sound and a light will flash for a minute to alert doctors to an arriving miner.
After initial medical checks and visits with family members selected by the miners, the men will be flown to the hospital in Copiapo, a 10-minute ride away. Two floors have been prepared where the miners will receive physical and psychological exams and be kept under observation in a ward as dark as a movie theater.
Chilean air force Lt. Col. Aldo Carbone said helicopter pilots have night-vision goggles but won’t fly unless it is clear of the thick Pacific Ocean fog that rolls in at night.
Families were urged to wait and prepare to greet the miners at home after a 48-hour hospital stay. Manalich said no cameras or interviews will be allowed until the miners are released, unless the miners expressly desire it.
Neighbors looked forward to barbecues and parties to replace the vigils held since their friends were trapped.
Urzua’s neighbors told the AP that he probably insisted on being the last one up.
“He’s a very good guy — he keeps everybody’s spirits up and is so responsible — he’s going to see this through to the end,” said neighbor Angelica Vicencio, who has led a nightly vigil outside the Urzua home in Copiapo.
U.S. President Barack Obama praised rescuers, who include many Americans. “While that rescue is far from over and difficult work remains, we pray that by God’s grace, the miners will be able to emerge safely and return to their families soon,” he said.
Chile has promised that its care of the miners won’t end for six months at least — not until they can be sure that each miner has readjusted.
Psychiatrists and other experts in surviving extreme situations predict their lives will be anything but normal.
Since Aug. 22, when a narrow bore hole broke through to their refuge and the miners stunned the world with a note, scrawled in red pen, disclosing their survival, their families have been exposed in ways they never imagined. Miners had to describe their physical and mental health in minute detail with teams of doctors and psychologists. In some cases, when both wives and lovers claimed the same man, everyone involved had to face the consequences.
___
Associated Press writers Frank Bajak and Vivian Sequera contributed to this report.
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Comments (76)
maddogLGTX
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:03amThank You Jesus for the lives of these men and the efforts of their fellow men to rescue them. This is a wonderful thing. Some welcome good news!
Report Post »imareader
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:03amGod is good!… a thrilling thing to see these miners come up! ……..
Report Post »and bless the American experts in the role they played in GETTIN’ IT DONE!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNlIZNP_SZLrEIJSmfdFLwXoVRXQD9IOESLG0?docId=D9IOESLG0
Ozzie
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:58pmSecond one is on his way up
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:38pmKeep it coming guys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so far so good .
Report Post »Hollowave21
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:32pmAwesome!
Report Post »Ozzie
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:17pmFirst miner looks great considering all he’s been through.
I shed a few tears when I saw him hugging his son and wife. Thank God these men are going to be with their families soon.
Report Post »IntegrityMatters
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:12pmThe first Miner is UP!!
Report Post »BOOOYAAAAHHH!~!!!
godlovinmom
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:20pmAmen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »EveryVoiceCounts
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:55pmWonderful news (for a change!) Prayers are being answered this day, shall we all celebrate this good news for a moment in time!
Report Post »De Je
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:38pmThis is amazing. God bless everyone working to get them out and the health care workers there ready to tend to them. I pray all the miners and rescuers make it out and are ok. Thank God he gives so many people the will not to give up!
Report Post »ARCHON
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:24pmwhat if they’re ZOMBIES?!?
Report Post »eteme
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:40pmNope, Zombee free.
Report Post »mathewsaddict
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:06pmto bad it wasn’t marines that got stuck down there. they would have dug there own way out by now!
Report Post »eteme
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:04pmwheel in the sky will keep turning..
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:49pmeverytime you see these trapped men…they seem okay…what a bunch of tough guys!!!!!….God bless them and their families….
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:36pmThis is something to actually be happy about. I don‘t think I’ll be able to stop watching the live feed until I’ve seen a couple of the guys make it out. I couldn’t be happier for them. Just awesome.
Report Post »Ga. Tea Party
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 8:53pmThey need to quit trying to make every thing perfect and get these men out. The more they complicate the rescue the more chances of failure. The more they fool around the more likely they will lose lives. Be men and go get those men out.
Report Post »lovelylucy2
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 8:46pmPraise God!
Report Post »angrymob
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:49amFor His love and mercy endures forever!
Report Post »charliego
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:55pmWonderful news,Chileans! All GOD’s children. And once again, the human being at their finest!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:52pmDoes anyone else find it a little odd that so few folks take time to post about the “good” stories here?? Some will take huge amounts of time to argue and fight with those of us on the right but are seemingly uninterested with the good in people. On second thought maybe that isn’t odd at all.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 8:52pmYou’re right 13 comments so far .
Report Post »m★rningStar
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:36pmAmen.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:28pmWe pray for the lives of the miners and their families. God willing, they’ll have means to provide for their family, job security is questionable.
Report Post »IntegrityMatters
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:27pmThere are two kinds of freedom: the false, where a man is free to do what he will; and the true, where a man is free to do what he ought.
Report Post »These people have done what they ought, for each other. The Miners pulled together, keeping their appointed group hierarchy, trusting together in each other’s talents and strengths. Chile has accepted help from others around the world, who feel compelled to do what they ought. God Bless them all. They have more prayers, admiration, and love than they will ever imagine exists.
debi55
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:53pmBeautifully said!
Report Post »alcarfl
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:54pmSafe evac. Those guys are super human to survive for 69 days. Amazing. Nice that American technology and funding was available to provide support. The question is, how can Shumer, Obama or Gloria Allred turn this crisis and recovery into a photo op or lawsuit?
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:50pmI’m sorry, but I’m more worried about the hole Obama has put this nation in and how we Americans are going to get out of it. Semper Fi.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:02pmWe‘re all worried about Obama’s hole but that will not stop us from expressing our feelings & joy of freeing trapped miners , specially when good Americans are also involved in the rescue efforts .
Robert .
Report Post »farleygospel
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:47pmGood news!
Report Post »http://farleygospel.blog.com
Robert W
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:30pmThe Lord got them through it. They set up a chapel, had a crucifix, pics of saints and Our Blessed Mother sent down. Lets see if the media reports on this fact. Dont hold your breath.
Report Post »angrymob
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:47am@ Robert W
Even I acknowledge this is a miracle from God. :) You know I am a Christian contrary to what you may think of me…by the way I just wanted to say I was hasty…however, I fear government involvement in religion period. I don’t want them telling me anything contrary to the Jesus I know.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:16amOh my – I am a liberal and I cried like a baby when the first man came up and was hugged by his son!! Liberals do have hearts contrary to what you may think. Miracles do happen!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-ec
Report Post »angrymob
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:40am@ walkwithme1966
I’m not liberal but I agree with you. I think everyone’s united in wanting to see these men rescued tonight.
Report Post »farleygospel
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:46pmThis is so wonderful! I am so thankful that the miners are free.
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:49pmAnswers to so many prayers. I wish them and their families only the best.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 7:54pmYes that God willing all will be free and safely out of there soon.
I wish them and their families the best – miracles still do happen, if we just are willing to look for them.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:20pmPraise the Lord! You know theres gonna be a good book coming. Maybe we can all learn something from these people about getn through tough times. God Bless them and their families!
Report Post »DrammyCoke
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:11amI was on submarines….. we’d stay underwater for 3 months with no issue. Sure it was air conditioned…. and we had lights, and beds, and food, and water, and showers, and……
These guys are hard core, thank you God for allowing them to survive.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:11amMiracles still happen today, and this is proof of it live in action. Thanks be to God for seeing these men safely out to their families.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)
Report Post »angrymob
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:37amThis is nothing short of a miracle. When they pulled the first miner out shivers went up my spine. The rest that need to be rescued are in my prayers tonight.
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 8:43amI am to Farley…you’re joyous for their country. Watching the people come up was truely inspiring but in between I felt some real twinges in our own country.
Report Post »1. What I found inspiring was seeing their country’s flag all over. There was some structure that had the flag painted on it. The people chanting C H I L I..I felt a real twinge of jealousy.
Here that highly public ACLU went after a school because someone was “offended” when students chanted USA. We’ve got OUR flag being removed all over by ACLU defending a pinhead. Right now we have that little twerp of a lawyer refusing to say the pledge in a courtroom…professing to love his country and guess who’s in the picture now…..YEP ACLU . THEY’RE MAKING THE CURE WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.
I also heard the cheers for their President and the warm sentiments that from day 1 he put the “full force” behind bringing these men out. That he accepted help from many many countries world wide to make this a successful mission.
Then I reflected on potus and the oil leak…not quite the warm feeling up my leg.
ishka4me
Posted on October 13, 2010 at 10:25ami wish the local news and national for that matter would do more happy news reporting. everyone i know was up watching the rescues. so far away and people cried around the world
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