The Impossible 1,656 Hour Rescue

Summary

In 2010, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 ft underground in Chile's Okama Desert after a mine collapse. With no means of escape, they relied on emergency shelters while rescuers faced numerous challenges, including a second collapse and drilling difficulties. After 69 days, the miners were finally rescued using Plan B, a large drill that widened a bore hole. The rescue operation showcased human resilience, technological innovation, and the unwavering hope that kept the miners and their families going.

Takeaways

• 😷 In 2010, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 ft underground in the Okama desert, Chile, after an unstable mine collapsed.
• 🔍 The initial rescue attempts were nearly impossible due to the destruction caused by the collapse and the dangerous conditions of the mine.
• 🔄 The miners were supposed to use the safety ventilation shafts for escape, but the crucial ladders were missing due to overlooked safety precautions.
• 🛠️ The shift supervisor, Luis Urzúa, took leadership and organized the men in a refuge with limited resources, emphasizing the importance of community and mental health.
• 📉 The rescue operation faced numerous challenges, including a second collapse that destroyed potential escape routes and complicated drilling efforts.
• 🔩 High-speed drilling rigs were used to attempt contact and supply delivery, with the rescuers having to navigate complex geological challenges.
• 📋 After 17 days, a note was sent to the surface confirming the miners were alive, which was a significant morale boost for the rescue operation.
• 🚨 The rescue plan involved three drilling operations (Plan A, B, and C) with each facing technical difficulties and geological obstacles.
• 🌐 The rescue was a global event, with the Chilean government, NASA, and international support playing crucial roles in the operation's success.
• 🏆 The final rescue, using Plan B, was a testament to human resilience and technological determination, with all 33 miners being successfully brought to the surface after 69 days.

Q & A

Where did the 2010 mining accident occur that trapped 33 miners?

The mining accident took place in the Atacama Desert, in Chile.

How deep were the miners trapped after the mine collapse?

The miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground after the collapse.

Why were the safety ladders in the ventilation shafts missing when the miners tried to escape?

The safety ladders were missing because the safety precautions that should have been in place for emergencies were overlooked and not put in place.

What was the initial plan of the rescuers to reach the trapped miners?

The initial plan was to descend through the ventilation shafts to contact the miners, as the main entrance was blocked.

What complication occurred during the rescue attempt on August 7th?

A second collapse occurred in the mine's corridors, which destroyed the ventilation shafts and routes, making the rescue efforts even more difficult.

What was the role of Luis Urzúa, the shift supervisor, during the miners' entrapment?

Luis Urzúa took a leadership role, organizing the men and assigning specific roles to ensure their survival, maintain morale, and manage the limited resources.

How long did it take for the rescuers to establish contact with the trapped miners after the collapse?

It took approximately 17 days for the rescuers to establish contact with the trapped miners.

What was the strategy used by the Chilean government to supply the miners with food and other necessities?

The Chilean government used the small bore holes to transport food, water, and other supplies to the miners while they were trapped.

What were the three drilling plans developed by the Chilean government to rescue the miners?

The three drilling plans were Plan A, using the Strata 950 drill; Plan B, using the T130XD air core drill to widen an existing bore hole; and Plan C, using the Canadian Rig 421 oil drill.

Why did the rescuers consult with NASA for advice on the miners' nutrition?

The rescuers consulted with NASA for advice on how to safely reintroduce normal amounts of food to the miners, who had been on a very limited diet, to avoid refeeding syndrome.

How long did the entire rescue operation take from the initial collapse to the last miner's ascent?

The rescue operation took 69 days from the initial collapse until the last miner was brought to the surface.

Outlines

00:00

😷 Trapped Miners' Desperate Situation

In 2010, a catastrophic mine collapse in Chile's Okama Desert trapped 33 miners 2,300 feet underground. The initial escape plan through safety ventilation shafts was thwarted by missing ladders, forcing the miners to seek refuge in a secure room with limited supplies. The rescue operation faced numerous challenges, including a second collapse that further complicated rescue efforts. Despite the dire circumstances, the miners, led by shift supervisor Luis Urzúa, maintained hope and organized themselves to survive, awaiting a rescue that seemed increasingly unlikely.

05:02

🔨 The Herculean Rescue Efforts

The rescue operation involved drilling multiple bore holes to locate and connect with the trapped miners. The initial attempts were met with difficulties due to the mine's complex geological structure. After 17 days, the miners were finally discovered alive, a moment of relief and joy that was short-lived as the challenge of extracting them safely remained. The rescue team, now aware of the miners' survival, faced the daunting task of drilling a large enough hole to bring them to the surface, a process that was fraught with technical and geological challenges.

10:04

📝 The Miners' Resilience and Community

The trapped miners, despite the scarcity of food and the psychological toll of their confinement, managed to maintain a sense of community and hope. They organized themselves into roles such as repair workers, morale boosters, and medics, ensuring their collective well-being. The leadership of Luis Urzúa was crucial in this period, as they awaited rescue. On the surface, the world watched with bated breath, as the rescue operation became a symbol of global solidarity and hope.

15:05

⏳ The Race Against Time

As the rescue operation progressed, three drilling plans were initiated: Plan A with a massive Australian drill, Plan B to widen an existing bore hole, and Plan C with a high-potential Canadian oil drill. Each plan faced its own set of challenges, from technical difficulties to the risk of further collapses. The miners, meanwhile, had to adjust to the possibility of re-feeding syndrome, and their mental health was closely monitored. The operation required meticulous planning and execution, with the world watching the clock tick towards an uncertain outcome.

20:07

🚨 The Final Push to Freedom

After 60 days, Plan B finally broke through, providing a path to freedom. The miners, who had endured physical and psychological stress, prepared to ascend to the surface in a capsule. The rescue was a test of courage and faith for the men, who had spent 69 days underground. One by one, they were brought to the surface, greeted by their families and the world, which had been captivated by their story. The last miner, Luis Urzúa, emerged as a symbol of leadership and hope, marking the end of a harrowing ordeal and the beginning of a new chapter for the rescued men.

25:09

🌟 A Story of Hope and Bravery

The rescue of the 33 miners became a global story of hope, bravery, and the indomitable human spirit. It showcased the power of technology, the importance of perseverance, and the unyielding faith that can move mountains. The world bore witness to a narrative that transcended geographical boundaries, uniting people in a shared moment of relief and celebration as each miner was brought to safety.

Keywords

💡Cave-in

A cave-in refers to the collapse of the roof or sides of a mine or cave. In the context of the video, a cave-in occurred at a mine in Chile, trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet underground. This event set off a desperate rescue operation and became the central theme of the video, illustrating the dangers of mining and the resilience of the miners.

💡Ventilation shafts

Ventilation shafts are vertical or inclined passages that provide fresh air circulation in underground mines. In the video, the miners hoped to escape through these shafts, which are designed with safety in mind. However, they found the ladders missing, highlighting a critical oversight in safety measures that complicated their situation.

💡Refuge

In the context of the video, a refuge refers to a secure room where the miners retreated for safety after the cave-in. This room provided them with shelter, water, and breathable air, becoming a lifeline until rescue efforts could reach them. It exemplifies the importance of emergency preparedness in hazardous environments.

💡Rationing

Rationing is the controlled distribution of limited resources, such as food. The miners had to ration their limited food supply, which was initially meant to last only a few days, to survive for an extended period. This concept is crucial to understanding the harsh realities and challenges faced by the miners during their ordeal.

💡Rescue operation

A rescue operation in the video refers to the coordinated efforts to save the trapped miners. It involved multiple drilling attempts, each representing a race against time and a testament to human perseverance. The operation underscored the complexity of underground rescues and the technical challenges faced by the rescue teams.

💡Drilling rigs

Drilling rigs are large machines used for creating holes in the ground, crucial for the rescue operation depicted in the video. The use of high-speed drilling rigs to penetrate the earth's crust and reach the trapped miners was a key part of the rescue strategy, showcasing the role of technology in such critical situations.

💡Stress

Stress is a psychological and physical strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. The miners experienced extreme stress due to their confinement and uncertainty about their rescue. The video highlights how stress management and maintaining morale were vital for their survival.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization. In the video, Luis Urzúa, the shift supervisor, took on a leadership role, organizing the miners and ensuring their survival. His actions exemplify the importance of leadership in crisis situations.

💡Community

Community refers to a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. The miners formed a tight-knit community underground, supporting each other emotionally and psychologically. This sense of community was crucial for their mental well-being and survival.

💡Refeeder syndrome

Refeeder syndrome is a condition that can occur when a starved body is suddenly reintroduced to food. The video mentions the potential risk of this syndrome for the miners as they had to transition from a state of extreme rationing to resuming normal eating patterns. This term is significant as it highlights the physical challenges the miners faced post-rescue.

💡Escape capsule

An escape capsule, as mentioned in the video, is a device used to transport the miners to the surface after they were located. The use of this capsule was a critical and innovative part of the rescue operation, symbolizing the culmination of technological efforts and the miners' hope for freedom.

Highlights

In 2010, a mine in Chile collapsed, trapping 33 miners 2,300 ft underground.

The area was so badly destroyed that rescue through the cave seemed impossible.

The miners turned to the safety ventilation shafts as a potential escape route.

Shockingly, they found the ladders in the ventilation shafts were missing.

Luis UA, the shift supervisor, gathered the men in a secure refuge with limited supplies.

Rescue teams faced the challenge of a blocked main entrance and dangerous conditions.

A second collapse on August 7th further complicated rescue efforts.

The miners had access to a refuge of about 50 square meters and 2 km of open tunnels.

The emergency shelter was stocked with only enough food for 3 to 4 days.

Luis UA organized the men into roles to maintain order and morale.

Rescue teams used high-speed drilling rigs to attempt to locate the miners.

The drill bit missed the refuge by less than 100 feet after 3 weeks of drilling.

A note strapped to the drill bit confirmed all 33 miners were alive after 3 weeks.

The Chilean government developed a comprehensive rescue plan with Plan A, B, and C drills.

Plan B was the most promising, aiming to widen a hole large enough for an escape capsule.

NASA was consulted to develop a nutrition plan to help miners readjust to normal food intake.

Plan B successfully broke through underground after 65 days, setting the stage for the rescue.

The final escape on day 69 saw each miner ascend to the surface in a capsule.

Luis UA, the leader who kept hope alive, was the last to be rescued.

The world witnessed a story of hope, bravery, and technological advancement.

Transcripts

in 2010 deep into the okama desert in

Chile an unstable and dangerous mine

under a mountain collapsed this cave

entrapped a group of 33 miners 2,300 ft

underground leaving them with absolutely

zero means of escape the area was

destroyed so badly that any rescue

effort through the cave would be nearly

impossible and Incredibly dangerous this

rescue was going to take a long time

getting these men out of this cave

seemed impossible they were buried by a

mountain right away however the men

quickly thought of one solution to

escape the mind a solution that was

created just in case something like this

would happen the idea was to escape from

the safety ventilation shafts these

shafts were acquired by Safety Code to

have ladders on them for multiple

reasons in case of emergency however to

the men's horror when they arrived to

the shafts the ladders were

missing this was a problem a big problem

the safety precautions that should have

been in place for emergencies were

overlooked and not put in place the

ladders to escape this nightmare easily

were not there now with no hope of

escape and being surrounded by

potentially dangerous rockfall the shift

supervisor of the group Lis UA was

forced to gather the men in a refuge a

safe and secure sealed room where the

men would stay where they have shelter

water and breathable air the idea was

for the men to stay here for some time

until rescue came but what they didn't

know was that any form of contact with

the outside world would not happen for a

very long time after

[Music]

this Rescuers arrived on scene to

quickly try and save these men with the

uncertainty of how dangerous this mine

is on top of not knowing the condition

of the 33 men below those that treed

into the mine did so out of pure risk

and consideration for the lives of the

men below even being in this mine at all

was a risk to your life they ventured

into the mine quickly however their

efforts would be halted when they were

met with a massive slab of rock that

blocked their path the main entrance to

the mine was out of the question to them

however there had to have been at least

one way to get to these men this mine

was full of hundreds of corridors that

spiraled down for thousands of feet and

each Corridor was linked by vertical

ventilation shafts that went straight

down into the mine with all of this

there had to have been at least one

route their Hope was lifted due to the

idea of descending down these

ventilation shafts ladders are not they

could descend down and at least contact

the men to see if they are even alive so

the rescue team attempted to descend

down the ventilation shafts with the

knowledge that at any time this mine

could Rumble and Crush all of them after

hours upon hours of searching for routes

in the shafts the main Rescue Team found

a shaft that led below the original

collapse this was huge this was the

shaft that would take them to

potentially seeing the 33 men so they

brought even more people into help and

things were finally looking up however

in the true fashion of disaster this

mine would not let these men be rescued

so easily because on August 7th after

hours upon hours of rescue attempts a

second Rumble began deep into the min's

corridors a second collapse had taken

place this this was the nail in the

coffin the ventilation shafts and routes

were destroyed at this point there was

no feasible way down no way that wasn't

already incredibly dangerous or just

completely blocked off on top of this

there was no way to ensure that another

collapse would take place it was far too

dangerous to continue these 33 men were

literally buried alive and unfortunately

for them they were buried under the

geological components of a mountain and

Deep Rock underground digging them out

seemed impossible they were nailed into

the Earth's crust fortunately however

the men still had the emergency shelter

it was a decently sized Refuge of about

50 square m it had two long benches that

extended across the area and even better

they had access to the tunnels that

weren't affected by the initial

collapses they had access to roughly 2

km of open Tunnel to move around in if

needed at the very least the men were

safe for now but the one problem that

these men still faced was food the

emergency shelter only stocked up on

about roughly 3 to 4 days worth of

edible food but with the situation

quickly turning from a potential few-

day rescue to now a multiple week rescue

these men were going to have to figure

out how to ration this food very very

carefully even then though the food was

only going to last so long there was no

telling how long it was going to take to

even find these men let alone complete a

full rescue at this point things were

looking pretty Grim Luis the shift

supervisor quickly realized the gravity

of the situation he knew the mine very

well and also knew how difficult this

rescue would end up being the situation

to put simply was very very complicated

regardless Louise calmly took a

leadership role and gathered the men and

began to organize things throughout the

group he wanted everyone to work

together in an organized system they

needed to work together if they wanted

to survive this all of the men took on

specific roles some organized workers to

repair mind damages some organized

prayer to keep the men's Spirits high

and some played pranks that they were

dying way too early to make the others

laugh saying things like tell my friends

and family that I love them and the all

of the money is in the then fake dying

and some acted as Medics to watch over

the physical and mental state of each

other prolonged exposure to lack of

sunlight and stress like this could

easily lead to issues like mental

psychosis and disease these men were

under more stress than they could ever

imagine some had babies on the way and

all had families that needed them at

home all of these men were under a

ridiculous amount of stress so it was

very important that they maintained a

sense of society and Community down

there keeping things light-hearted and

laughing together and watching out for

each other was crucial at this point it

had been more than a few days down in

this dark Dusty mine 2,300 ft under the

Earth and keep in mind they still didn't

have a clue on how long it was going to

take to get rescued in the midst of such

a life-threatening situation the stress

they must have been feeling is

incomprehensible but what they did to

come together and help each other manage

stress and build a sense of community

and fellowship is nothing short of

absolutely

beautiful at the top however things were

not looking nearly as straightforward

they still had no idea if these men were

even alive to The Rescuer these men

could have been crushed in the initial

collapse and to make things even more

stressful a majority of the men's

families had all arrived on scene to

wait for their rescue and at this point

they had waited for days alongside this

the situation had become National and

even international news the whole world

seemed to be watching alongside the

rescue team to wait and see for any type

of response from the men many people

rooted online for the men's survival and

gave them support the Chilean president

even showed up to support the rescue

efforts but all of this to not a single

sign of the men's survival so at this

point the only thing The Rescuers could

do is to look at a map of the mine and

make an educated guess on where the best

area to drill down into would be they

ended up bringing nine high-speed

drilling rigs into the area and for the

next few days multiple bore holes about

16 cm in diameter would be drilled down

in specific areas to try and locate the

whereabouts of the men but the drill rig

supervisors were confli did they knew

they had to drill fast because of the

oxygen limits and the food limits that

the men would face deep into the mine

but unlike what most people would think

drilling isn't nearly as simple as just

going straight down into the area you

want to it is much more complicated than

that due to the nature of the

underground rock certain heavy and

disruptive rock formations underground

would redirect the drills literally

sending them hundreds of feet off of

course the drilling team literally had

to calculate the curvature of the drills

and redirect them back on course into

the perfect cave Corridor doing this is

quote like hitting a perfect football

shot into the right hand corner of the

net from half a mile away and they had

to do this fast to them these men would

perish in days and it had already been

close to a week and on top of all of

this they were originally given an

outdated version of the min's map

complicating things to a different level

but regard regardless the drilling team

was doing an incredible job given what

they had to work with the first drill

opens up 1,000 ft down into the mine to

not a single sign of Life days at this

point have passed the second drill is

1,600 ft down also no sign of life more

days have passed at this point there

really was only one other option for

drilling drilling into the Refuge that

existed 2,300 ft down into the mine they

figured if anywhere if anywhere at all

they would be there but it was going to

take them roughly another week to get

there yet another week of drilling into

the unknown but regardless they still go

for it and begin drilling again it takes

a while due to it being so incredibly

deep down in being in such a precise

spot so they have to be very very

careful however they continue to work

diligently and after multiple days the

drill begins to near The Refuge as it

approaches the exact spot where the men

are everyone waits in

anticipation this would be the exact

moment where they need to get rescued as

it closes in on the Refuge the drill bit

that could change the course of these 33

men's lives forever

miraculously

misses by only less than 100

ft at this point most people including

family members fear the they are all

dead it has been a very long time since

the collapse at this point almost 2 and

1/2 Weeks the chances that these men in

these conditions after this much time

were still kicking seemed incredibly low

the hope that existed above ground

seemed gone these poor people were to

say the least

devastated at the bottom however the men

needed them unbeknownst to The Rescuers

the men could actually hear the drills

in the distance getting closer each time

they knew they were being saved so to

them that's all they had they needed

just one drill to make it there so they

can connect with their families again

you see they had prepared notes to write

and put on the drill in case it reaches

them a note that would assure everyone

that they were fine they need just one

more drill attempt at this point the men

were well running out of food they

didn't have much time left at the top I

don't think any anyone expected The

Rescuers to give up they certainly

wouldn't just leave these men down there

but to them things looked very bad it's

hard to estimate how long something like

this would take when there's so much

uncertainty in each attempt to rescue

them you can only expect the worst but

in the realm of expectations I don't

think anybody expected this to

happen the engineers heard something

they were convinced that they heard a

faint banging noise reverberating up the

drill this seemed far-fetched but it

turns out the drill had actually broken

into a tunnel somewhat near The Refuge

this stopped every single person there

right in the tracks and as they relayed

the drill back up the hole they waited

there for 6 hours to see what could have

been signs of the 33 miners everyone

waited patiently this was the last hope

after being hopeless for days and crying

for more the families had just one more

chance to connect with each other and

after 6 hours passed the drill bit

slowly came out of the ground and the

team rushed to it immediately and what

showed on the end of the drill bit that

was just traveled to the Earth's crust

and back was a note strapped to the tip

of the bit

[Music]

the note read we are well in The Refuge

all 33 of us they were alive they had

found the men after 3 weeks of struggle

Despair and hopelessness a miracle had

Shone through the ground and saved their

lives

however I would be lying if I said this

rescue was finally over because the

harsh reality of it all is that this is

not even half of the problem here just

being found was only the beginning of

their struggles there was still a

massive issue how in the world were they

going to get the men out of there it had

already taken almost 3 weeks to drill

one tiny 13 cm wide hole down there if

they wanted to drill a hole wide enough

to transport a human being there was no

telling how long that would take it was

originally estimated to potentially take

up to 3 months to drill such a hole or

even longer by then they would have

reached Christmas time at the very least

these tiny little bore holes could at

least act as a tunnel to transport

important needed items and supplies to

the miners at the very least they were

safe for now but they needed to do this

drilling very very carefully because any

mishaps in the process could lead to

months upon months of delay so

subsequently the Chilean government

developed a comprehensive rescue plan

that would hopefully get these men out

earlier than not this plan was based on

three potential mining operations a plan

a drill a plan B drill and a plan C

drill the plan Adriel was comprised of

an Australian rais Bor called the Strada

950 it was provided generously by the

Murray and Roberts company and weighed a

whopping 31 tons one of the largest

mining drills in the entire world it was

so large in fact that it had to be

shipped in multiple pieces on a massive

truck Convoy this drill in the nature of

it being plan a began drilling first the

plan B drill was a t130 XD air core

drill that was chosen to actually widen

one of the existing bore holes that was

keeping the miners supplied with Palomas

this drill consisted of multiple teams

of specialized personnel and specialized

drilling hammers firstly the drill

needed to enlarg in the 15 cm hole to a

30 cm hole then enlarging that again to

a 70 CM hole but it had to be done in

stages because the rock would put the

drill under way too much pressure this

drill started after plan a and began on

September 5th to dig towards the men's

workshop and finally the plan C drill

was the most promising one it was a

Canadian rig 421 an oil drill that could

theoretically drill a wide enough hole

all the way down without having to widen

in any existing B holes this drill

needed a whopping 40 truckloads to be

transport orted into the area this drill

is also technically faster than mining

drills but it would be very difficult to

aim such a large oil drill at such a

small Target many people including the

families had very high hopes for this

rig in particular this rig began

drilling on September 19th and thus the

race between plan A B and C

began as the drills did their thing it's

important to note that waiting was a

crucial Point here as horrible as it

sounds these men were were forced to

wait for any developments in the rescue

for weeks and although I'm sure their

hopes and Spirits were lifted

dramatically after being found and

talking to their families being down

there was still incredibly rough and

mentally exhausting on top of the

compounded stress they likely felt

whilst being rescued they also had

problems eating more food after

rationing for so long an issue called

ref feeder syndrome and it actually

could be seriously fatal if not handled

correctly the body just doesn't know how

to handle a lot of food after learning

how to live off of nothing for so long

so due to this the Chilean government

actually consulted NASA for advice they

worked together to develop a good

nutrition plan that would keep these men

stable as they reate normal amounts of

food these men were trying to adjust but

as constant problems would arise with

the drills and their mental health they

would seriously deteriorate

significantly there were a few problems

with each drill method plan a had

multiple technical difficulties and it

was slower due to the Hard Rock against

the type of drill they were using these

delays would significantly hinder the

mental and physical strength of the men

below plan a was essentially out of the

question on top of this plan B initially

had high hopes and was very fast and

effective against the Hard Rock but the

drill actually could not be steered they

needed to use bore holes as a guide for

drilling this seemed uncertain to say

the least and eventually later down the

drill bit for Plan B actually broke

multiple times and fell into the hole

blocking off the path essentially

halting the entire drilling process

entirely the first time it broke the

miners knew nothing of it and they

retrieved the bit out of the hole but

the second time it broke the bit fell

into the hole and the miners saw what

happened and while they laughed it off

I'm sure they didn't feel too good about

it every single time there was an issue

the miners could hear the mining stop

and it was hard to explain that there

was mechanical issues that could lead to

weeks of delays to them eventually plan

C had arrived week later and while it

was still likely to be the most

effective it would take 9 days to

construct regardless it was still the

fan favorite at this point the men had

been down in this mine longer than

anybody in history and while these men

should have been developing a severe

array of psychological issues their

resilience and toughness was something

that even psychologists above were

surprised to see these men were holding

on due to only one thing and that was

their faith faith in pretty much

everything above ground and their

families faith that everything would

work out and faith in themselves and

their brothers luckily and finally

however a breakthrough occurred Plan B

had broken through underground and

completed its first step of widening the

B holes it was now 12 in wide but for it

to hold the miners it would need to be

widened another 14 in so while they had

made it down they still had a long way

to go but this seemed to lift the

motivation of the men who chanted Chile

and held on to each other however the

drill was still estimated to take

upwards of 26 more days to be completed

it had already been 44 days and to hear

that it would take 26 more had to have

been ridiculously hard to hear these men

were still under so much tension and

psychological distress that they had to

be monitored carefully because at this

point still not even knowing if

something were to go wrong had to have

been eating at them plan C however had

finally been completed and it was

estimated to drill its own big enough

holes in only 20 days l c seemed to be

drilling significantly faster on top of

this the escape capsule to transport the

men out of the ground had arrived it was

just wide enough to fit a human being

and the plan was that they would be

dragged out of the ground 2,300 ft in

this tiny little capsule for a whopping

20 minutes alone each time this was a

scary thought being in such an enclosed

Space by yourself getting dragged up by

a C through the ground for 20 minutes

had to have been a stressful thing to

accept there was no telling if there

would be mechanical issues in the

capsule and especially after being

comfortable in your own little cave

space but I'm sure they were also

incredibly eager to get out at this

point however in a sick turn of events

plan C seemed to be suffering the same

fate as plan a when its original high

hopes of drilling fast was halted by

severely Hard Rock and mechanical issues

it ended up drilling significantly

slower than what they thought hot it was

only drilling 50 ft per day plan C was

now out of the question they now relied

on only one more drill to save the 33

men this was their last hope plan B

drilled pretty fast it was a massive

drill bit with four hammers on each side

it was to say the least effective but

the drill as it did its thing produced

20 tons of debris that fell down into

the mine constantly this meant that the

men Below had to clear this debris out

constantly so they had a clear path to

them they worked all day doing this

physical labor on top of all the stress

and clearing out this mind the work they

put themselves through and the stress

that they handled is just

incredible these men had done their dues

and completed their work and dealt with

their stress at this point they deserved

rescue at this point it had been 60 days

and plan B was nearing its conclusion

and the miners had worked diligently to

clear CLE out the falling debris but

there was just still one last problem

here Plan B was within a 30t range of

breaking through underground but just

like the beginning when the men were

first trapped The Rock was no more

stable than it was months ago the closer

that they got to the mine the more risk

they ran that another collapse could

happen as the drill neared the entrance

the risk that the roof would cave in

climbed higher and higher they slowed

down the drill and slowly inched down as

careful as they possibly could this was

the defining moment this one

breakthrough spelled months upon months

of rescue hope and freedom into reality

this would connect them to the top

connect them to survival connect them to

the faith that they had been diligently

and bravely holding on to as hard and

enduring as they could for months and

finally in the morning at 8:00 a.m. 65

days into the rescue efforts of the 33

men in the mind below Plan B the drill

provided to widen one of the exist ing

bore holes broke through and

miraculously did so without any

complications and as they set up the

final escape capsule on day 69 unsure on

how the men would react to such a long

scary and uncertain Trek up the 2,300

foot hole they were worried for the

final Escape but at the very least they

did know one thing that they could rely

on when it came to these brave men and

that was their courage courage that they

needed to endure what they had to to

surv survive the men still obviously

afraid took on the final challenge that

would allow them to leave this nightmare

for the last time and one by one entered

into the escape capsule to leave the

mine one by one they tracked up the hole

one by one they were met with their

families and their Rescuers and shared

that one special moment they had been

waiting for some chanted in pure bravery

some cried most hugged their loved ones

and some handed out rocks as souvenirs

from Down Under and one by one one they

left this nightmare each receiving their

own special Standing Ovation each

relieved and blessed that they had

survived and finally as the men went by

the final man would be ready to escape

Louis UA the man credited with saving

the lives of the 32 other men below with

his leadership hope and prosperity he

left as the last minor making sure that

his brothers escaped first on that night

the whole world who had been watching

this carefully United to witness the end

of of a story a story of pure and utter

grit and bravery a story of

technological advancement and trial and

error and most importantly everybody

around the world was there to witness a

story of Hope

a