Many of the 33 Chilean miners rescued last week gathered around the drill hole through which they were rescued last week to reflect and thank. The world record was set for the longest period spend underground trapped by these miners. Last Wednesday, the 33 miners, who were trapped over a 1000 feet underground, were rescued in an operation which highlighted the cutting edge technology and expertise in possession of Chile. Many of the miners came back with family to survey the gold and copper mine which could have easily been their tomb. For 69 days the miners survived underground aided by the physical and emotional support given by the rescue crew working relentlessly on the surface. The final reemergence of the miners to the surface was viewed all over the world by people who had been praying for their safe rescue.
The Chilean government has been extremely supportive throughout the endeavor. They have offered free psychological support as the miners attempt to get back to the lives they had left behind. The fears of the psychological support crew is proving to be well founded as the process of reintegration is being interfered with by the media and other people as they race to record the miners’ stories firsthand.
So far, the miners have decided to act as a single unit as they decide to put up a book collectively. There had been offers of contracts for movies and books and other cash offers even before the rescue operation had reached its culmination. Now, the miners have hired an accountant to look into the cash transactions that had gone on while they were still underground. They seem to be extremely level headed and foresighted as they pressurize the Chilean government for better facilities and training. They seem to understand that the media glare and cash might be temporary.
The Chilean President, Sebastian Pinera on a visit to U.K., said that Churchill’s famous phrase “blood, toil, tears and sweat," was the inspiration for the rescue operators.
