And, months/weeks/hours sooner than had *ever* been anticipated, all of the men were/are out of the mine.
As I write this, they are all in a hospital in Copiapó, the nearest municipality, for medical evaluation, dental work (several of them will need general anesthesia due to the extent of the work needed), and re-acclimation to the surface. Their vision, particularly, needs to be protected.
Florencio Avalos, Miner #1, emerged shortly after midnight local time (Chile) in the early hours of Wednesday, October 13.
Luis Urzua, Miner #33, the shift foreman/leader, emerged less than 22 hours later.
The six rescue team members who had descended into the mine to assist the miners also emerged in rapid order, after the on-the-surface jubilation over the miners' 100% successful
rescue had abated.
This was an international rescue effort, with German, American, South African, and other mine-rescue, drilling, and additional specialists lending their advice and expertise. But the Chileans had taken the bit in their teeth as soon as they knew the miners were alive, back in August, and before they knew anyone would help them at all.
Remember: the initial estimates were that the miners would need to endure until Christmas. This estimate was based on equipment present in Chile at the time and the best/safest methods available in country then.
When larger/stronger/different equipment was offered from other countries, Chile readily accepted the offer, hoping against hope that it would help get the miners out sooner and more safely.
The rescue was given only a 2% chance of success at the beginning, according to Presidente Piñera. The Chilean mining and engineering experts he consulted gave very low chances of success, but everyone recommended going for it, because it was unthinkable to them to simply abandon the men. Gracias a Dios / Gottseidank / Thank God.
During the hours I was home yesterday, I had two windows open on my computer. One was streaming the BBC feed, with Tim Willcox--fluent in Spanish as well as his native British English--interviewing el Presidente, Mining Minister Golborne, a news anchor from Santiago, a movie director who had already begun to make a film about this hugely important episode in Chile's history almost as soon as the miners were known to be alive, a mother in the camp, a father in the camp, random Chileans--all because (unlike any non-Hispanic American news reporter I can think of) he *is* fluent in Spanish and not dependent on a crew of translators, etc. The night before, I had watched amazing Miner #2, Mario Sepúlveda, make his extended statement of philosophy and thanks and listen to every word of his I could hear.
It felt absolutely wonderful, uplifting, almost spiritual to be transfixed by such a story.
Need I say that the last time a world event so transfixed me was nine years, one month, and three days ago? Yes: September 11, 2001. I watched and listened to early morning news that day (from 6:00 to 8:10) and then drove to school, where I answered questions from students, parents, and staff all day about terrorism (this was before the connection to Islam was known), then Islam, the history of Islam and its sects, and so on down the line. I was known as not just a teacher of world history, but its perpetual student.
How wonderful, then, that the Chilean miner rescue was such an uplifting story, esp. when I remembered the all-consuming 9/11/01 disaster and its ongoing effects in our lives. The miner rescue will forever be the highlight of Chile's Bicentennial year. Pres. Piñera already has in mind establishing a museum dedicated to the Copiapó / San José Mine rescue, perhaps to include--but only if the author agrees--the note which put the rescue in motion:
"Estamos bien en el refugio. Los 33."
Cynthia
