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"We were waiting for death," Chilean miner says

Other News Materials 15 October 2010 10:50 (UTC +04:00)
One of the rescued Chilean miners has described his despair during the first 17 days trapped underground, saying he was sure he would die, according to an interview published in the Washington Post Friday.
"We were waiting for death," Chilean miner says

One of the rescued Chilean miners has described his despair during the first 17 days trapped underground, saying he was sure he would die, according to an interview published in the Washington Post Friday.

Richard Villarroel, 26, was hoisted from the Earth's depths on Wednesday, one of the 33 men who endured 69 days trapped after a copper mine shaft collapsed on August 5. All 33 were rescued on Tuesday and Wednesday, DPA reported.

"We were waiting for death," Villarroel was quoted as saying by the Post.

The interview took place in the field hospital right outside of the rescue site at the San Jose copper mine, where the men were taken immediately after they stepped out of the rescue capsule above ground.

The men have since been transferred to a regional hospital in Copiapo, where at least three have been released, according to Chilean media reports.

"We were wasting away. We were so skinny," Villarroel told the Post.

He said he had lost 12 kilogrammes, which was an average weight loss for most of the trapped men in the first 17 days.

"I was afraid of not meeting my baby, who is on the way. That was what I was most waiting for."

The survival and rescue of the men is considered an all-time first for so many people trapped underground at such a depth - 700 metres - for so long.

By day 17 after the August 5 collapse, some of the men had nearly given up, climbing into cots in the underground safety chamber and refusing to get up, Villarroel told the Post. The men had agreed early on to the the rationing of half a spoonful a day of tuna per man, he said.

The men heard the test bores being drilled around them, but were convinced none of them would ever punch through to where they were, the miner told the Post.

Finally, on day 17, at 6:30 am, Villarroel described how he was playing dominoes to pass the time when a drill bit came through the ceiling. He grabbed a wrench and began clanging on it, he told the Post.

The narrow shaft became their lifeline for food, water and other necessities while they waited for the larger rescue shaft to be drilled.

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