What more can we say but Wow?
I have been watching this story unfold over the last couple of months and hoping for this outcome, frankly I think that this is a very good news story and it says heaps about just what is noble about the human animal.
Chile's President, Sebastian Pinera, greets the second rescued miner, Mario Sepulveda, left, yesterday. Picture: AP Source: The Australian
Around them, and throughout Chile, celebrations and media mayhem continued as the first of the 33 men trapped underground triumphantly emerged.
“I never doubted I would get out alive,” Mr Sepulveda said. “God and the devil fought for me, and God decided to save me.”
As powerful lights danced across the night sky, horns blared when the first miner, Florencio Avalos, 31, stepped out of a special steel rescue cage and breathed fresh air for the first time in 69 days just after midnight, local time (2pm AEDT).
Watched by an estimated one billion viewers worldwide, he immediately hugged his seven-year-old son, his wife, Monica, and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and other officials before being taken to a hospital for tests.
Cheers indeed Comrades
Yes, Iain, it was one of the great ‘feel good’ stories of all time. I watched the first few coming out yesterday, and the last miner today. Wonderful stuff and great to see the Chilean President and people united as one.
Incidentally, you are one of the few bloggers to even write about this. I even noticed one blogger we both know complaining that it deserved better coverage … while not actually writing about it himself!
I was so glad yesterday when the news came through that the first of these men had made it to the surface. The joy among their loved ones moved me to tears.
I have a held off writing about it until now because I did not want to say anything until those men were safe and well and now that they are there is not much to say but well done to the rescuers and respect for the miners who held it together while they waited for rescue.