Chile's rescued miners headed home today as heroes after a 69-day ordeal deep underground during which they drank oil-contaminated water and set off explosives in a desperate bid to alert rescuers.
The first three of the 33 men were cleared to leave a hospital late yesterday, returning to neighbours' cheers a day after their stunning rescue from the collapsed mine in Chile's remote northern desert. At least 10 more were set for release today, their doctors said.
The miners have became global media stars since their widely watched rescue and have been showered with job offers and gifts, including invitations to visit the Greek isles and Graceland and attend European football matches.
"This is really incredible. It hasn't sunk in," said Juan Illanes (52), still wearing the dark sunglasses he and his fellow miners were given to protect their eyes after being stuck since August 5th in a dark cavern.
Amid the celebrations, some of the darker details of their time in the mine began to emerge. Many of them said they thought they would die in the 17 days before searchers located them alive. Mr Illanes said being trapped after the mine collapse had taken him "to the limit".
Edison Pena (34), a triathlete who ran 10km a day through the mine's tunnels to cope with stress after the collapse, said he didn't expect to see his home again. "I didn't think I'd make it back, so this reception really blows my mind," he said, as waiting neighbours showered him with confetti. "We really had a bad time."
The men burned tyres in the first days after the mine collapse, hoping the smoke would reach the surface and alert rescuers, and set off explosives in an effort to be heard. They went up to 72 hours without food before being found alive.
The remaining 30 miners are due to head today after medical tests. Most of the men are surprisingly healthy - one was being treated for pneumonia and others needed dental treatment, but none are suffering serious health problems.
Experts say the most lasting damage could be emotional. "There should be concern about their psychological adjustment over time, particularly after the joy of the reunion period, which will last for a few days to a few weeks," said John Fairbank, a psychiatry professor at Duke University
Medical Center.
Despite the trauma, some of the miners said they planned to remain in the profession. "Of course. We have to keep working. This is part of our trade," rescued miner Osman Araya told local television when asked if he would go back to mining.
Alex Vega, the 10th miner to be pulled out of the mine on Wednesday, echoed that sentiment. "I want to go back . . . I'm a miner at heart. It's something in your blood," Mr Vega said.
The miners, who set a world record for survival underground, were hoisted to the surface in a metal capsule in a rescue operation that was watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide and triggered celebrations across Chile.
A flamboyant local singer-turned-businessman has given each of them $10,000 each, while Apple boss Steve Jobs has sent all of them an iPod. There also is the prospect of book and film deals.
In a complex but flawless operation under Chile's Atacama desert, the miners were hauled out one by one through 2,050 feet (625 metres) of rock in a metal capsule little wider than a man's shoulders and dubbed "Phoenix" after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes.
It took 24 hours to extract the miners and the six rescuers who had gone down the escape shaft to help get the men out.
A top government official said the rescue operation cost about $18 million (€12 billion) and suggested the capsule - painted red, blue and white, like the Chilean flag - might also go on a world tour.
President Sebastian Pinera, whose popularity has risen over his handling of the crisis, was at the San Jose mine to greet each of the men as they were rescued and he invited them yesterday to visit the presidential palace later this month.
Mr Pinera, a soccer fan who also plays the game, challenged the miners to a match against his cabinet. "The team that wins will stay in La Moneda [presidential palace]. The team that loses goes back to the mine," he joked.
Reuters