Chile miners rescue: Your reaction

I am superstitus. I will not have an opinion until they are all out of the mine. To speculate on the outcome may curse the project.

Let's just pray to all our Gods and hope that everything turns out beautifully.

Prayer changes things. All except my spelling, that is.

The Quecreek mine disaster in Somerset County, Pennsylvania proved in 2002 that not all situations end in mass fatalities. A passenger jet crashed there during the 9-11 Twin Towers catastrope. Never give up on finding a good solution.

Please God let each one of these men be safely delivered to the surface and their families.

Chile is to be congratulated on the achievement of rescuing these men in such a short time.
If it had happened here we would still be waiting for risk assessments to be completed, then we would have to go abroad to get the drill and tube to get the men out. Oh, but we don't have any miners do we.

I'll cher everyone out of the ground.

Why do the BBC feel the need to send 40+ people to cover this event?

Just shows what can be achieved when you put human life above profit.Lets hope they all get out alive.

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4. At 10:30pm on 12 Oct 2010, Peter Hodge wrote:

Chile is to be congratulated on the achievement of rescuing these men in such a short time.
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A sort time? Over two months these chaps have been down there.

As with point 1, I wouldn't like to say anything until all the miners are out.

As for following the rescue attempt, I don't think my stress levels would cope - how the miners and their families have coped and are coping, I have no idea. But I take my hat off to them.

These miners and their families are true heroes. Looks like and I do wish this attempt is succussful, but this incident has made me think about all the stuff we in the "technological" world take for granted. People like these miners work in appalling conditions with a low wage to get raw materials for our jewellery, ipod, laptops etc...sickening.
I wish these miners get proper compensation for their suffering.

I am watching the live coverage. What has stood out to me over the whole of this episode is the fact that they have openly acknowledged God's part in the rescue. Not blaming God, just praying their loved ones will get out safely.

The resilience and courage these 33 men have shown is a tremendous inspiration. I pray with all my heart that every one of them be brought out to the surface safely.

"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. More than that no man is entitled, and less than that no man shall have."

They deserve good fortune when they return.

Matt Frei is a respected correspondent and I have always listened to his impartial presentations with interest, but to hear him suggest that the miners have had a fairly easy time underground because they have not lacked for anything they have asked for is really pushing the bounds of belief for a serious reporter!

I have been following the story of these 33 miners since August and as history is made today, I sincerely pray that all of them will be out and remain strong. I really like their mindset, which is really helping their survival.

Why are the miners all suddenly called heroes? Certainly they are all very courageous, but after all, each miners chooses this line of dangerous work and know all the risks. When all the miners have been rescued, surely it should be the engineers who designed and orchestrated this difficult and very technical escape that must be honoured as the true heroes in this accident.

As of right now, this is not news. What is my reaction? There's nothing to react to. Wait until it has actually happened. Then if it's completely successful I'd say Hooray, well done all. If not, I'd say Well, they did their best. What else is there to say - it won't change the world, or Chile, or anywhere, and will be forgotten after next week.

God be with them all, and we hope that they will all survive the rescue.

I'm so glad these brave men are finally about to be rescued. It must be a huge relief to their families and friends who are waiting at the surface. Good luck to everyone taking part in the operation, I hope it all goes well and all 33 miners get out safely.

Patience, perseverance, prayers and technology have all lined into one big successful line, God bless those people who were trapped and are finally going to get a ray of sunshine and hopes. Congratulations Chile! You have proved to the world that it can be done. There are thousands of people who get killed in mining accidents, Chile has shown the way to improve the mine safety.

Has anyone stopped to think the presence of so many people, vehicles and heavy equipment could further threaten the stability of the area underground? Let's hope people don't start jumping up and down. I'm sincerely hoping they all come out safely but I'm nervous because of this over the top, world is watching presence as it happens

I sincerely wish them and their rescuers success after what must seem like a lifetime.

God Speed.

As many others I hope and wish the best for the trente tres miners...Im loving the reporter Tim Wilcox and the others who are speaking and translating in Spanish ...its FANTASTIC !! This is what is needed on TV to give young people the incentive to speak other languages ......I am learning to speak spanish and love listening to Tim and collegues and then the chillien person ...love trying to pick out words and great when I understand it too ...This is what we want on TV its soooo interesting beats stupid celeberaty drosss !!!!
Tim your my hero ......Im your new fan........
Will pray for the 33 best wishes for all to make it out of there safe and sound ...god bless you all

Will you be following the rescue attempt? Are you in Chile? If so, what do you think of this saga?
I think the BBC should be out getting news rather than begging for it.

How exactly has Chile shown the way to improve mine safety? Hasn't this whole incident in fact highlighted how dangerous and unsafe it is down there and that health and safety prodecures in relation to this line of work need a serious and immediate overhaul?

Godspeed.

Sod getting in that thing!

He Who Dares Wins.

God speed to all the miners.

People around the world are wishing them well. The whole situation has highlighted the goodness in people and how we can work together for good despite all attempts of the media to show us in bad light.

The rescue tunnel reminds me of Jesus, as only through Him can we reach the light. If only we all did what He asked of us, it could be paradise - no greedy mining companies that put people's lives at risk by cutting corners for a start.

I am praying for you guys and hoping that the earth tunnel is as strong as Jesus.

Fingers crossed and hope it all goes well! At least Chile has mines to be rescued from. Thatcher closed all ours so that we could import coal from Poland, Georgia, Ukraine and so on. Happy days!!!!

Tim will cox has presented a factual,sensitive presentation.it has been spoiled by that clown Matt Fry. All he can do is give the negative,nit-picking "journalism" that the UK is beset by. Gethim off. I ask you ,him talking about the miners, " Life has not been unpleasant for them . Has it. The man is a fool, and a stirrer as well, get him off!

Matt Frei going for his award tonight. Dreadful. Distinct lack of impartiality and sensitivity

He's getting even worse. Now he's attacking the premier for being British educated and wealthy.

Good luck.
Hope you guys enjoy a nice cool beer in the sun soon.

Safe journeys... We are watching every minute here in Melbourne Australia.

I wish two things for these men and their families.
1) that they are all rescued successfully.
2) that they are given ample time to adjust to life outside of the mine, before being pressured into speaking to the media.

Oh, and one more. That they are given all the medical and psychological help they need to recover from their ordeal.

World is united as I can see I'm setting in doha 2.32am and watching live channel bbc just waiting when the first person will arrive. God Bless all the courageous people out there. No one can Imagine 17 days inside more than 600m how they are thinking, Is some is some one is doing rescue mission for them. Brave people are rare here are 33 together.

The most exciting news and terrifying moments yet, all my thoughts and good wishes for everyone involved, the brave men who survived such catastrophe and the massive effort of the rescuers and everyone else. The one shamed in all this for their greed, is the mining company, who are not able (willing?) to pay even the salaries to the miners' families, everyone in that company should be made accountable for this and other previous tragedies in which the same company has been responsible.

I am following the BBC live broadcast and send prayers to all the miners and the rescue team for a successful end to this horrific saga. May valuable lessons be learnt by mining companies worldwide from this long-going event. Dios bendiga a todos involucrados... los mineros, sus familias y los rescatadores.

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I remember many years ago at School assembly the headteacher had us say a prayer for the stricken Appollo astronauts. Hoping they would return home safe. They did. This has stuck in my mind all my life. I hope all the world joins me in hoping for the safe return of the miners. God bless.

Plz when u read this PRAY to GOD to help the miners, their relatives & the rescue process . . . I hope they'll be fine . . .

Is 0150 at GMT+1 (Paris, France)

Blue skies for the miners!

I cannot even begin to imagine what has been going through the minds of these miners...and their families! my prayers are with them and the rescue teams that all goes well and they are all rescued.safely!

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I am hopeful that everything will turn out well. I just want to call on serenity and patience. My deep admiration for the miners who are about to come through a traumatic experience.

This whole operation has shown the great good that human beings at their best are capable of. I pray everyting goes successfully and that amongst all the doom and gloom a story of happiness will prevail.

The courage of the men who will go into the mine is incredible. To risk your life for strangers is rare I could not do it! I just hope that all get out OK. Good luck.d

This is a wonderful example of how faith can bring joy. Fantastic!

Tim wilcox i find is an outstanding newsreader,but on the other hand the other newsreader he has been speaking to is absolutely appalling!!To make a back handed remark that Mario Gomez wants the note he wrote back to sell on ebay is horrific.It may be that he wants it back for his own personal reasons which could be from anything like showing his family to keeping it as a keepsake....

I am amazed by the technological advancement that almost every one of us take for granted. Hundred years ago such a rescue would have been unimaginable and impossible.

Both the 33 miners who are bravely marking time deep inside the bowels of the earth for over two months and the thousands of unknown human beings who are responsible for this mind blowing rescue effort demonstrate the indomitable courage and achievement of the human race.

I have great admiration for the Chilean miners for enduring what can only be described as a living nightmare. Thank goodness for the engineering and scientific technology that has given them hope. It amazes me that people always exploit these situations to plug their religion. All the comments about God and Jesus pay testament to that. If the miners faith has gotten them through this horrific ordeal then that can only be a good thing. However, let's not forget that they have been the victims of an avoidable disaster which was not caused by any supernatural means, and with the same token, their survival and rescue has nothing to do with the supernatural. I wish them well.

I'd like to give some credit to all of the hard work that has got the Chileans this far into the heroic rescue effort, rather than to this "GOD" character (who?) that people keep going on about.

Let's not take away from the captivity and suffering of the miners below the ground and their determined rescuers. And let's not be silly and superstitious here - I'm confident that each and every one of those miners will make it back to the surface safely. They have lasted 2 months down there; they're not going to give up now.

Go for it, guys. See you all back on the surface.

I don't think the presence of the politicos
at the rescue site is helping matters.

I have had a quiet word with "him upstairs" and asked him not to get distracted with any other problem until all 33 are home safe and sound. It's great to see the whole world almost, hoping and praying for their safe delivery - what a change from stories of man's inhumanty to man. Would that it could always be this way?

If someone is reading this and can tell the men at the shaft where Phoenix capsuel is please tell them to get a safety strap on the block and tackle wheel they are using to centre the cable in the rescue shaft.If it breaks it will be lost down the rescue shaft and could cause problems.The block and tacle wheel is under slight tension and will oscilate up and down.

Watching the live feed. they need to move that top pulley so the the winchrope is more vertical. Not totally verticat , but gravity is fighting them at the moment. If they neede to use the separate pulley attatched by webbing to the frame it should be much higher up.

The extra pulley held by webbing needs to be secured to the webbing with more that what they are doing at the mo. if the pulley comes loose, or if anything is dropped down the hole while the capusule is in there. it could jam the capsule up.
A writin these comments as a mechanical engineering manager of 25 years ecperience

It's not over yet; nonetheless, I applaud the miners who are showing so much courage and perseverence, and my heart and prayers go out to them ... and just as much to their families.

I applaud Chilean government for making this such a priority, I applaud the workers who are doing such an excellent job, and I applaud the people of Chile: you have a lot to be proud of.

I also am impressed about the live TV coverage from Chile: no trite, self-serving commentary by babbling announcers. I'm just watching what is happening. Whoever made the decision to keep the talking heads out of the coverage should get a medal.

(Do you get the hint, BBC?)

It is obviuos why they are having trouble -the hole curves, the rescue pod is straight, adjustments they have just done was to try to get the pod around a bend -- the tolerance between the internal diameter of the liner and that of the pod including its guide wheels is critical, if the tube was straight no problem, take a straw and a cocktail stick, bend the straw slightly and the cocktail stick will not pass thru, more on the tube joints - this is not going to be easy if possible at all, also the reason that it was not lined all the way down.
I dont believe in god, but if something is out there i hope it helps them to success.
Fingers crossed

Insomnia has its advantages!

The great day's arrived for the miners to begin their ascent to the surface. Am glued to BBC coverage, candle lit and heart full of hope for the successful arrival of each and every brave miner. They are truly heroes to have endured such a catastrophe. My thoughts are sending them all that little bit of extra strength and patience ... then, I too will jump for joy at their freedom. In the meantime, am nervous for them all and full of admiration for everyone involved in organising this amazing rescue. Absolutely awesome.

I think the door of the capsule could be a source of problems. You could see a few minutes ago that there was a guy bashing it with a hammer to fix an issue with it catching. It was obvious. They would just about be better off removing it.

If it catches on the bottom end of the pipe its travelling thru, or on a bit of rock it could cause a nasty problem.

as far as the angle they are pulling on, it may be in line with top section of the pipe its travelling thru, but gravity is creating a force vector to that alignment. Not shure if they could move the whole pulley rig with a bulldozer or similar. its just not right at the moment. they may be fortunate and the capsule will scrape up and down without issue.

I hope they get away with it.

toolmantoo - the block and tackle holding the cable is only to keep the cable from wearing against the steel liner, the hole is not straight down, nor is it in line, it has bends and kinks, the reason that the cable is so massive is to allow for this wear and tear, also would not be surprised to see the lift cable changed more than once

I find Matt Frei a little out of touch in BBC's coverage.
I speak spanish and I didn't appreciate when he asked to a miners' mother if she thought his son was dead... families are under huge stress and anguish, I think it's not time to bring that on right now.

rw50 - the only reason the pulley is used is to keep the cable away from the edge of the casing - the real issue is if the capsule can actually reach the bottom via the twists and turns

I am English, living in Chile, with my Chilean wife. My wife works for the company which supplied the Plan B drill (Collahuasi), and the coverage from the BBC is even better than the local coverage!

¡Fuerza mineros!

I reckon they should put some weights in the capsule, equal to a mans weight, and winch it up and down a few times, without incident, before they go sending a man down in it.

Last thing they need now is a medic, stuck in a capsule, half way down to the guys already down there.

With so many others all over the world I am watching the BBC's coverage of the rescue attempt. I remember listening to reports in the middle of the night 10 years ago of those poor Russian sailors trapped thousands of feet beneath the sea in the nuclear submarine, the Kursk. A different scenario, I know, but it reminds me of all the people who do difficult and dangerous jobs, probably for not much money, who we never really think about until something like this happens. I hope and pray there will be a successful outcome to this rescue attempt and that once they are out the miners and their families will be able to enjoy some kind of normality and peace.

Stuck again on a turn in the hole - the lads will celebrate on top when it actually reaches depth.
This is going to be alot longer and harder than you folks beleive

cross your fingers or do what ever your religion dictates for the medic going down, a trip into space would be safer, who ever you are may your god go with you

¡Vaya con Dios, Sr. Médico!

They (the miners) believe in God & he has got them this far; now I pray he completes the task successfully for them. I believe in God also...& I know he will be their saviour.

In advance of this the final part of the rescue; I thank God in advance.


And to all the experts & rescue workers overground, God be with you.

Jaker - With that type of logic, you would have to assume that your God put the miners in this horrific situation in the first place.

Politicians will always be politicians, and I can see that Pres. Piñera is as mealy-mouthed as the best of them. But I still have to give the man and his administration credit for committing so much national capital to this rescue.

Mark stocks- im fully aware that the extra pulley is there to sto the cable dragging on the side of the pipe. What I'm saying is, whats to stop the pulley dropping down the hole, if for example the webbing breaks or the knot comes undone?

Moving the main top pulley would solve the potential issue. i hope that it works without incident the way it is.

Sooner the indefatigable human effort will be rewarded in rescuing the 33 trapped miners after 68 days. More than the outside help, I salute the patience and fortitude that the trapped miners have shown all along the ordeal. Every conscious heart prays particularly the near and dear ones of those trapped that the rescue should be a cent per cent success and my conscience forsees a victory for this supreme allout effort. Even the gods will be waiting with their bated breaths to see the smiles on everyone's face at the end of the ordeal.

forget the politics, remember this has to work some 35 times, its not over, along way from over, inagine being the last person.
as the phrase goes if it can go wrong it will.
even my dog has its paws crossed

I wish them all good luck in this endeavour.

Now that I know about the rescue attempt I hope it goes off smoothly.

Back in the days of our grandparents people fell down mineshafts or were caught up in other disasters both natural and man made, but our forebears did not worry about them because there was no internet or 24 hour news channels bombarding with details that had no relevance to their personal lives.


Today's internet and 24 hour rolling news channel generation by contrast, is expected to have an opinion on practically every subject no matter how far removed it is from their ordinary day to day lives.

I spose there could also be complications from the miner in the capsule as well. If one of the miners has a panic attact or similar on the way up, and tries to open the door. Could be trickey if the door catches on a rock or the bottom of the casing pipe.

I don't want it to rain on thier parade, but things CAN go wrong. I wish them all a speedy and incident free ascent.

I never thought I'd be so happy to watch nothing more than a wheel turning, turning, turning ...

Just a few more minutes until the capsule reaches the surface!

The ratchet strap is used for a reason, the pulley wheel has its own self lock mechanism, if tension is lost from the strap it immediately grips the cable and prevents itself from dropping down the cable.
the webbing is used to prevent any weight (as in steel) from possibly dropping down the shaft

Vangellis -- welcome to the modern world

I'm originally from Chile and I'm familiar with the region, the miners and the deplorable conditions in which foreign companies - mainly Canadians and Australians- keep the miners. No one talks about why this tragedy happened: lack of safety, lack of safety inspections, horrible working conditions, total disregard for human lives ....profits, profits and more profits, that's all it counts.
Chile DOESN'T charge royalties, only a small tax subjected to the good performance of the company. The rich Chilean oligarchy, the foreign vultures disguised as mine owners are guilty and responsible for what happened to those unfortunate souls. STOP the pitiful moaning and sorrowful expressions that at the end of the day means nothing: miners needs better working conditions, decent wages, safety codes and enforcement, they don't need your pity.

Once the corporate media show ends, no one will even care where this God forsaken country is located, let alone the pillaging that rich nations are conducting in that land, thus, condemning these miners and their families to eternal poverty and despair, while we enjoy the fruit of their labour feeling sorry for their bad luck.....as if luck had anything to do with it!!!

Brilliant work from the Chileans. Watching it live. 04:19 GMT

well said CarlosF
Lets all just hope this rescue can now be repeated for all others-bear a thought for the last man out,imagine what he will be going thru, seeing his friends go before him, he will be the true hero -if there can be one - from this amasing scenario

You can start to see the potential problems I was talking about , before they used the capsule. You can see on the live feed at this moment. U can see they are concerned about the door not fitting flush with the capsule.

Moving the top pulley nearer to vertical over the hole would help this, and remove the need to use the extra pulley to kee the wire cable more cenral in the hole.

I wis they would put a safety line on that extra pully! If it drops down the hole it could give them problems.

I hope it doesn't

ruffled_feathers wrote:

'As for following the rescue attempt, I don't think my stress levels would cope'

You don't know how lucky you are. I had the misfortune to be watching this on Australian TV. Nobody deserves journalists like that! They simply don't know when to shut up. It's bad enough with sport, with their triumphalism and boasting - most real Aussies find them embarrassing. I've just switched off the telly before I throw something at it. The moment has been ruined by these morons.

Thank God and the politicians who decided that this was money well spent..I really do not care how cynical their reasoning may have been, they have given hope to every miner trapped in an accident in the future.

Congratulations to the BBC and Matt Frei in particular for their extraordinary coverage of the end of this drama. The quality of BBC World's reporting was superior to anything else available in Canada or the United States. Well done, BBC! Tonight you enabled those far away from Chile to share in the joy felt by people in Chile and throughout the world tonight -- a rare horrible story with a very happy ending, please God.

I am in the U.S. and watching this on https://www.bbc.co.uk/. Will someone please tell Matt Frei that he is not actually being seen on BBC America. Currently, they are showing an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

@TominExeter: As you say. ABC24 is blathering endlessly, and Nine is worse!

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Im so happy that the miners are finally being brought to the surface.... but to be fair to the non-spanish speaking public the bbc needs to hire better translators... the woman who is doing the live interpretation is leaving out so many beautiful things that are being said.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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the door not fitting flush is the nature of the beast, its a tube with a large hole cut in it, extraction will cause the capsule to bend, almost to the point maybe that a replacement will have to be used.
with regard to the placement of the hoist wheel,this is dependant on the angle of the hole that has been drilled as such it provides the best straight pull possible, you will see the hoist rope move from one side to the other as decent or ascent occurs, directly above would not be an ideal situation.
The best straight line for pull/lift is paramount.

WELL DONE CHILE and the people of Chile. We are all proud of you. Good Luck from London England.

this is one of the best GOOD news in my entire life. thanks to bbc for the coverage.

beautiful night .beautiful coverage but why oh why bbc have you got that banner showing the number of 'miners rescued' makes it look like attainments on an x-box game like sky[s...''collect the set'

Congratulations Chile!!!
The world is watching and praying!

Absolutely emotional moments! It's 0616AM (GMT+1) Paris time and I haven't sleep as the emotion don't let me! Great BBC coverage btw, respectful in not rushing to the families to just capt their stress as other channels do. Wilcox in top of his work.

Ive just see the first two miners get safely out and am feeling somewhat emotional.

Its fantastic that after 69 days all have survived and certainly the first two looked pretty well.

When the little girl of the first one just ran to him ill admit Id a huge lump in my throat.

So looking forward to seeing the last one emerge but so fat it looks as if the rescue is going to be a complete sucess

Probably the most exciting rescue since Apollo 13...

Hats off chile! Great job. We pray for safe rescue ahead.