Book '33 Men, Buried Alive' In The Works Inspired By Chilean Miners

According to the article below, the rescue of the Chilean miners is truly an inspirational story. In fact, it's already spawned a book, according to the Hollywood Reporter, '33 Men, Buried Alive: The Inside Story of the Trapped Chilean Miners' in the UK in early 2011. Also, the miners have been fielding offers for beer commercials and TV interviews, the latter potentially earning the men as much as $20,000.
       . . . June


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Chilean miners inspire book, separate mining reality show on its way
The Marquee Blog - CNN.com Blogs:

The rescue of the Chilean miners is truly an inspirational story. In fact, it's already spawned a book, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Jonathan Franklin - a reporter covering the rescue saga for Britain's Guardian newspaper - is set to release the book '33 Men, Buried Alive: The Inside Story of the Trapped Chilean Miners' in the UK in early 2011. In addition, according to Broadcasting & Cable, the miners have been fielding offers for beer commercials and TV interviews, the latter potentially earning the men as much as $20,000.

One thing we know won't be happening, despite reports to the contrary: If there is a movie in the works about the rescue, as some speculate surely can't be far off, it won't be starring Javier Bardem. The actor's rep tells CNN, 'There is no truth to this rumor

And although a new Spike TV series won't feature Chilean miners, the network has announced that it's ordered up "Coal," a docu-series that chronicles the dangers of working in a West Virginia mine, according to a statement.

The show, which airs in April, will focus on Cobalt Mine co-owners Mike Crowder and Tom Roberts, as well as their fellow miners, and cover every aspect of their jobs, including planting explosives.

“Coal mining is an integral part of the American economy and the lifeblood of communities across the U.S. and the world,” said Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president of original series and animation, in a statement. “This series is going to shine a light on the brave men and women and their families who endure the rigors of this arduous profession.”

Execs at the network told THR that the show has been in development for nearly a year and that their timing is just a coincidence. “It didn’t take a tragedy, and then a miracle, to get us excited about this,” explains Sharon Levy, executive VP of original programming at Spike. “We’ve tapped into something that people are passionate about; this is a topic the world is interested in.”

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First Miner FLORENCIO AVALOS Reaches The Surface

 I watched, along with millions of people around the world as 31 year old Florencio Avalos was brought up to the surface for the first time in 68 days. He appeared to be in surprisingly good condition considering what he had been through. He hugged his family and several other people and was whisked off to a triage centre to be checked out. A joyful start to a long process has just begun.
    . . . June


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First of 33 trapped miners reaches surface
This Just In - CNN.com Blogs:

Rescuers clap and cheer as the first miner to be rescued, Florencio Avalos, 31, leaves the capsule and steps onto the surface for the first time in about 68 days. After hugging several people, he is put on a stretcher and wheeled into a nearby triage center.

The first of 33 miners who were trapped in the mine more than two months ago has been rescued.

The rescue capsule carrying Florencio Avalos reached the surface about 16 minutes after the ascent from the miners' refuge 2,300 feet below the surface began. Avalos is the first miner to be rescued.



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Drill Breaks Through To Trapped Miners in Chile

 They've finally reached the miners and the celebrations are on. However, the ordeal is far from over and even now, the miners’ rescue is likely to be days away, with the actual extraction beginning late Monday at the earliest. At this point, those miners are going to start thinking of that long journey up strapped inside the rescue capsule. God bless them!
    . . . June


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Drill Reaches Trapped Miners in Chile, but Risks Remain

By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO and CHRISTINE HAUSER Published: October 9, 2010


SAN JOSÉ MINE, Chile — They wept, they cheered, sirens blared and a bell at a makeshift schoolhouse rang in celebration.

SAN JOSÉ MINE, Chile — They wept, they cheered, sirens blared and a bell at a makeshift schoolhouse rang in celebration.

After nearly two months of waiting, the moment had finally arrived.

At 8:05 a.m. on Saturday, here in a camp in this scorching desert, a powerful drill pierced through abrasive volcanic rock to reach 33 miners trapped nearly a half a mile underground since Aug. 5. Family members erupted into cheers. They ran downhill toward the site

Family members erupted into cheers. They ran downhill toward the site with flags, some singing the Chilean national anthem. A victorious call rang out: “Viva Chilean miners!”
It was a crucial moment in the long and torturous effort to rescue the men, who have been surviving on supplies lowered down to them more than 2,050 feet below the surface.

Reaching this stage required an extraordinary international effort and pioneering rescue techniques to plow through thousands of feet of rock while not compromising the miners’ safety. Chilean officials brought in advisers from NASA, created a special rescue capsule and even fed the trapped miners cylindrical pies specially baked to fit down a narrow hole.

But the ordeal is far from over and even now, the miners’ rescue is likely to be days away, with the actual extraction beginning late Monday at the earliest.

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The Chilean Miners Could Soon Be Above Ground

Good news for the trapped miners. According to the article below, Chile’s government hopes to have the group out of the collapsed mine later this month after initially saying it would take until Christmas. There are three drills working to reach them and they are making good time. I'm sure that to the men trapped below, every hour saved is precious.    . . . June


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Chilean miners could see light soon:
Eyewitness News: South African construction giant Murray and Roberts said its drill will break through to a group of trapped Chilean miners within the next few days.

After that, the hole left by the pilot drill will be widened to a 70cm diameter to allow a special capsule to pull the 33 men to surface.

The miners are stuck 700 metres underground and are waiting as three separate drills are boring their way down to rescue them.

Fresh reports have said Chile’s government hopes to have the group out of the collapsed mine later this month after initially saying it would take until Christmas.

Murray and Roberts said while the other two drills may well reach the miners earlier, their rescue shaft will not be ready before mid-November. 


The company’s Ed Jardim said, “Our drills are currently 600 metres down of the 700 and that’s the pilot hole. 

Thereafter we’ll start widening the hole to its full diameter. We expect that our pilot hole will break through in the next few days, maybe in a week or 10 days.”



The miners have been trapped underground for two months and are reportedly exercising to stay fit and prepare for their rescue.

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Rescue Capsule 'Phoenix" Arrives at The Mine

One of the rescue capsules has arrived at the Chilean mine according to the following article.The capsule is 21 inches wide and contains tanks of air, a microphone for communications, and equipment to monitor the miner's heart rate and breathing as they are raised to the surface. Both the families and the miners themselves are reminded that their nightmare will eventually end.
    . . . June


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'Phoenix' capsule arrives to rescue Chilean miners
Telegraph:

The first of three rescue capsules, named Phoenix, arrived at the mine on Saturday.

'We have called it Phoenix because I think it will bring about a rebirth of the miners, and a new life for them,' said mining minister Laurence Golborne.

The miners have been trapped 2,257 feet underground since August 5 when the roof of the mine collapsed.
They were discovered alive and well 17 days later, and rescuers have been drilling to reach them since August 31.

Families gathered at Camp Hope, high in the Atacama Desert, applauded and chanted "Viva Chile!" as the six foot high metal cage was unveiled.

"It is what we have all been waiting for," said Elizabeth Segovia, sister of one of the trapped miners.

"Of course we know that there will be difficulties, but now everything will be much easier."

The 420kg capsule, painted in the colours of the Chilean flag, is 21 inches wide and contains tanks of air, a microphone for communications, and equipment to monitor the miner's heart rate and breathing as they are raised to the surface.

Cristina Nunez, wife of trapped miner Claudio Yanez, climbed into the cage and said: "I'm very happy.

Claudio will fit inside perfectly because he's one of the skinnier ones. But all 33 will fit fine. This bring us a step closer to the rescue."

Engineers in charge of drilling to rescue the miners believe that they are likely to be reached in early November.

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