Can you imagine how different the situation would be if these 33 men were trapped that deep underground 20 years ago? :-S And consider the live feed we're getting from over 2,000 feet below the surface. It is awesome! \m/ Props to Chilean Prez Piñera for his media savvyness :)
Hats off especially to the entire team that took care of these men. They ALL look buffed and healthy and not traumatized at all :D An amazing testament to how closely the medics and other teams worked with the miners to keep them alive and well. Truly, this entire experience has been nothing but a MIRACLE.
I took screencaps of what were, for me, some of the most beautiful moments during this intense and memorable event.
The Phoenix arrives in the miners' underground refuge for the very first time, carrying in it the first rescuer Manuel Gonzalez.
The sight of that capsule never gets tired :) That hunk of metal is absolutely beautiful.
The sight of that capsule never gets tired :) That hunk of metal is absolutely beautiful.
31-year old Florencio Avalos, the first miner to be rescued, gets bear hugs from his family.
40-year old Mario Sepulveda (2nd miner to be rescued) hugs Chilean President Sebastian Piñera. He had acted as the group's spokesperson below ground.
Florencio Avalos, fresh out of the medical check-up, shares a long-awaited reunion kiss with his wife
Bolivian miner Carlos Mamani is handed a framed picture of himself with the word "Esperanza" on it. "Esperanza" is Spanish for "hope".
Medic gives the thumbs-up that cleared 63-year old Mario Gomez after what seemed to be the longest minute in history. His rescue was considered to be the most crucial due to his having developed "black lungs".
The crowd fell silent when Mario Gomez knelt down to say a prayer of thanksgiving.
Two nations united by a tragedy that ended in a celebration: (L) Bolivian President Evo Morales and (R) Chilean President Sebastian Piñera
The 6 rescuers underground hold up a sign saying "Mission Complete, Chile".
The first rescue worker Manuel Gonzalez, a mining expert, is the last man to leave the cave. He makes 1 last bow before getting into the capsule.
All in all, 33 miners + 6 rescue workers = 39 workers resurfaced via the Fenix II capsule within 24 hours. A major success story! What a year for Chile :D
How surreal is this? One day you're a Bolivian miner in a foreign country who gets trapped underground for 69 days, the next day you're hugging your president :-)
View of the miners' path back to life from the Phoenix cam on top
27-year old Daniel Herrera hugs his dear mother ever so tightly.
By the time Daniel has been brought back to "life", the rescue operation had been going on non-stop for about 13 hours.
Rescuers underground & aboveground cheer & sing as the "captain", shift manager Luis Urzua, is pulled up. He was the last miner to be rescued. He volunteered to go up last so that he could ensure all his men go up first. What a guy! Viva!
The distance marker that rescuers used in the operation. Black triangle is the Fenix II capsule. A meter to go and Luis Urzua has arrived back on top of the earth.
Luis Urzua has arrived!
Chilean President Piñera & Luiz Urzua embrace and exchange words of gratefulness and encouragement.
Chilean President leads his countrymen in what may be the most heartfelt & proud singing of their national anthem.
All in all, 33 miners + 6 rescue workers = 39 workers resurfaced via the Fenix II capsule within 24 hours. A major success story! What a year for Chile :D
Click here to see the photos posted by the Chilean media from the site.
I caught some zzz's after the 17th miner was rescued. When I woke up after about 7 hours, my Twitter feed tells me that the 28th miner had been rescued. That was fast! :D
Viva Chile!I caught some zzz's after the 17th miner was rescued. When I woke up after about 7 hours, my Twitter feed tells me that the 28th miner had been rescued. That was fast! :D
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