Last Chilean Miner Safely Reaches Surface

Last Chilean miner Luis Urzua (L) to be rescued celebrates next to Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (R) after arriving in the capsule Fenix to the surface at the San Jose mine. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The last of the 33 miners trapped deep underground for more than two months in northern Chile has been rescued, BBC reports Thursday.

Luis Urzua, 54, the last miner out, emerged at the top of the 624- meter rescue shaft at 9:55 pm, local time Wednesday and was cheered by an ecstatic crowd of journalists, onlookers and family members.

The operation lasted 22 hours with each of the 33 men hoisted in a narrow capsule.

Some of them have severe dental infections and eye problems as a result of living in the dirt and darkness of the mine. One has been diagnosed with pneumonia but his condition is not thought to be serious.

Health Minister, Jaime Manalich, stressed that all appeared to be in far better condition than expected.

Chile's President, Sebastian Pinera, who stood near the shaft until the very end, said his country will never be the same again after the extraordinary rescue and Chile was "more united and stronger than ever", and "more valued" worldwide.

The President led the crowd in singing the Chilean national anthem. Watching the rescue on a big screen nearby, the miners' friends and relatives were showered with champagne and confetti.

In a televised address to the nation at the mine entrance, Pinera said: "When the last miner exited the depths of the mine, I was moved as every Chilean was."

"I want to thank Chilean men and women... who always had words of relief, gestures and smiles. We felt supported by all Chileans, and I want to say that today Chile is not the same country we had 69 days ago."

"The miners are not the same people who got trapped on... 5 August. They have come out stronger, and they taught us a lesson. But Chile is not the same either."

The rescue operation began shortly after 11:15 pm on Tuesday with the first miner, Florencio Avalos, reaching the surface at 00:10 am local time on Wednesday.

The miners wore a "bio-harness" designed for astronauts - which monitors their heart rate, breathing, temperature and oxygen consumption - and sunglasses to protect his eyes from the glare of the desert.

After family reunions, all miners were flown to the hospital in the nearby city of Copiapo, amidst heightened security and crowds of journalists and local people.

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