Chile's rescued return for service
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME of the 33 miners who were rescued last week after 69 days trapped underground returned yesterday for a religious service at the mine in northern Chile that almost became their tomb.
The miners, their families and friends were attending a ceremony in a tent at the mouth of the San Jose copper and gold mine from which they were rescued last Wednesday in a painstakingly planned and perfectly executed operation watched live on television around the world.
Among the first 10 miners to arrive for the service was Juan Carlos Aguilar, who walked around the minehead holding the hand of his young daughter.
He and the other men were trapped for more than two months 625 meters underground before being rescued. The ceremony was seeking to honor the miners' solidarity and determination to survive.
"It's going to be difficult, but we know we can take it," said Omar Reygadas of the emotions that would be involved. The widower was the 17th to be rescued.
Another rescued worker, Jose Henriquez, the group's prayer leader who asked for 33 bibles to be sent down while they awaited rescue, became the first to go back to visit the mine on Saturday.
He said he wanted to get to know the area near the mine known as "Camp Hope," where family members gathered to pray and await news about their husbands, sons and fathers. "I came to look in my locker to make sure I didn't leave anything behind," he joked.
Ending what many felt was a spiritual mission, families of the miners last Thursday packed up the tents they had lived in for the previous two months and prepared for life outside the intense fellowship that the camp provided.
They descended on the barren land around the San Jose mine after it collapsed on August 5, fearful that all the miners were dead but refusing to give up.
The miners are not saying much so far about what it was really like after the cave-in that left them huddled together in a humid cavern. Some are talking about saving their stories for a book about those 69 hellish days.
The miners, their families and friends were attending a ceremony in a tent at the mouth of the San Jose copper and gold mine from which they were rescued last Wednesday in a painstakingly planned and perfectly executed operation watched live on television around the world.
Among the first 10 miners to arrive for the service was Juan Carlos Aguilar, who walked around the minehead holding the hand of his young daughter.
He and the other men were trapped for more than two months 625 meters underground before being rescued. The ceremony was seeking to honor the miners' solidarity and determination to survive.
"It's going to be difficult, but we know we can take it," said Omar Reygadas of the emotions that would be involved. The widower was the 17th to be rescued.
Another rescued worker, Jose Henriquez, the group's prayer leader who asked for 33 bibles to be sent down while they awaited rescue, became the first to go back to visit the mine on Saturday.
He said he wanted to get to know the area near the mine known as "Camp Hope," where family members gathered to pray and await news about their husbands, sons and fathers. "I came to look in my locker to make sure I didn't leave anything behind," he joked.
Ending what many felt was a spiritual mission, families of the miners last Thursday packed up the tents they had lived in for the previous two months and prepared for life outside the intense fellowship that the camp provided.
They descended on the barren land around the San Jose mine after it collapsed on August 5, fearful that all the miners were dead but refusing to give up.
The miners are not saying much so far about what it was really like after the cave-in that left them huddled together in a humid cavern. Some are talking about saving their stories for a book about those 69 hellish days.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
