1st Chilean Rescue miner on his way

Ive been watching the Chilean rescue all day & the first rescue miner, Manuel Gonzales, is about 5 minutes into his descent down the shaft.

Time estimates keep changing but from what I hear it will take him about 15 minutes to get down. Im sure he will feel very welcome.

Estimates on how long it will take for them to come up is up to an hour each. They are saying they may send 4 rescuers down first.

Good luck to them all.

OK, live footage right now.

The first guy has JUST entered the rescue shaft & is on his way up !

First miner is now going up. Not sure if another rescuer will be sent down after - most likely not. Good luck to each and every one!

And at 1411 Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (GMT +11) is out.

He is 31 year old Florencio Avalos.

Personally Id be asking for a beer & a burger.

reply to post by SNAFU38


Wow, to see the family reunited with him, how awesome!
I hope the opereation continues smooth, and they all make it out!

reply to post by SNAFU38


I been watching it all night. I hope they get them all up safe. Those bangs and knocks are nerve wracking, you just hope nothing lets go. Not very many people on this site seem very interested. Looks like they are sending another one down. Not sure about that idea.

reply to post by pigwithoutawig


Do you know why they are sending a man down?
I saw them load what looked like a device/pad with an electronic screen?

I cried.

Couldn't help myself.

reply to post by burntheships


I guess maybe if something happens it would be good to have 2 medics down there. Originally they said they might send four down. Yea I saw the screen too,don't know what it was.

Its almost 4:30am here and i'm glued to the screen. What an emotional reunion.

I hope the rest go as smooth as that one.

reply to post by pigwithoutawig


True that, ok so they are medics.
That makes sense.

I have worked underground in gold mines and held every job up to mine superintendent and riding in one of those escape capsules would even give me claustrophobia.
I have crawled through tight areas exploring mines and doing mine rescue training and when you get in a tight spot you will feel the ground closing in on you even though you know its not.

Well that's another one safely down. Hopefully the next person get's up safe.

It has taken 59 minutes for the second miner to reach the surface.

It may be a long wait for the last man out.

I was just thinking, watching the family greet them at the surface, whats going to happen when that guy who had his wife & mistress waiting ? Might be an uncomfortable moment for him.

reply to post by burntheships


It is a specially designed pod.

I guess it is just a big pill casing they climb into. It looks like they stand the entire trip.

The pod has cameras on it, they showed the footage earlier when they were testing it, didnt look like a pleasant ride.

Time is probably the LAST thing on these miners minds right now. 33 hours is nothing compared to two months of anguish. Just Knowing they have a chance to get out of a fatal situation must be rejoicing beyond belief.

All seems to go well so far.

Well my live coverage has come to an end after about 7 hours.

The 4th man had just left the bottom so he should be up in about 8 minutes, give or take.

Anyone else seeing it live may be able to keep us updated from now.

reply to post by SNAFU38


The miner with wife and mistress above ground will be the final miner to be brought to the top.

Watched the rescue efforts of the first 3 miners, just so awsome!

wow i have been following this story since the beginning. i am very happy that they are now being rescued. what an incredible ordeal these men and their families have gone through. i can only imagine how anxious they are to get out.