Relatives of trapped Chilean miners 'hopeful'
Updated on 06 September 2010
As 33 miners face their second month trapped deep underground in Chile, relatives of the men tell Channel 4 News of their continued hope they will be rescued safely.
Despite regular contact with the men fears remain that any type of infection could prove life threatening.
Medical teams are continuing to monitor the group for possible skin, pulmonary or gastrointestinal problems.
Psychologists are also looking for signs of sleep deprivation, stress and depression.
Mining electrician Mario Sepulveda has become one of the more prominent figures trapped underground, credited with helping to keep spirits high. But his wife says no one knows the full extent of what he is going through.
Elvira Valdivia told Channel 4 News: "I think he is contributing with his happiness and his innate leadership skills.
"He is very extroverted; he has a lot of character. But like any human he has his emotional ups and downs. Just as much as he is seen elated I think he gets sad.
"To tell you the truth he doesn't tell me what it's like below. He tells me to be calm and not to worry. When he gets out he will tell me in detail what he has lived."
Chile's Health Minister Jaime Manalich said officials were initially worried about some of the group: "Our first concern was that five of them didn't show in the first video, so we asked Johnny and Mr Urzua to ask when we sent the video machine again to show all of them to us, and they did with the exception of one, that didn't want (to appear).
"He only accepted to be interviewed via the telephone line. Our psychology group has designed a particular teamwork with these five guys. Let's say we put those five on extra psychological treatment. No drugs. And after two or three days they accepted to become part of the group."
As more rescue equipment arrives at the site relatives of the trapped men say they have fresh hope.
Elizabeth Segovia said: "We are facing this second stage with great optimism and faith so that they can rescue them soon; that's our struggle now.
We know that they won't come out in optimal conditions, they will be thin, but our hope is that the rescue mission starts soon. This will make us very happy."
The rescue attempt has won praise from NASA's deputy chief medical officer who has been brought in to offer expertise.
Michael Duncan said: "I think the team is dealing with extraordinary circumstances. They are basically writing the book on how to rescue somebody, this many people, from this deep, after this long underground.
"There are many decisions being made every day weighing the risks versus the benefits. I think they've done a tremendous job. We had no difference in opinion in regards to how the approach has been taken.
"Confrontations are certainly possible. Do we expect them? We will try to work towards preventative measures to ward them off. But it's certainly possible."
Latest estimates suggest the men will be rescued in November although teams on the ground are reluctant to give precise dates.
