Miners rescue: who are the Chile 33?

Florencio Avalos, 31

The father of two, who was trapped in the mine along with his younger brother Renan, had been second in command of the team before disaster struck. Avalos often acted as cameraman in the mine, frustrating his family who wanted to see the shy man in front of the camera, rather than behind it. He was picked as the first miner to emerge because of his fitness.

Mario Sepulveda, 39

Sepulveda was known as “the presenter” as narrator of the first video to reveal the trapped miners’ quarters. The joker in the pack ended one video with “over to you in the studio”. Emerging from the mine with a yellow bag filled with rocks, he handed one to President Pinera as a present. As he was stretchered away, he asked his wife: “How’s the dog?”.

Juan Illanes, 52

An electrical mechanic retired from the Chilean military, Illanes was greeted by his wife Carmen, who he had been married to for 24 years. He was a corporal during Chile’s conflicts with Argentina.

Carlos Mamani, 24

The only non-Chilean miner, the Bolivian called his trip to the surface “a cruise”. The heavy machinery operator had been working in the mine for just five days before being trapped underground for 69 days. Met by the Bolivian president, he told his family he will never work in a mine again.

Jimmy Sanchez, 19

The youngest of “Los 33”, claustrophobic Sanchez worked as an environmental assistant and had been a miner for just five months before becoming trapped. Sanchez is father to a baby girl with his 17-year-old girlfriend Helen Avalos. While trapped underground, he said he missed his mother’s cooking the most.

Araya Osman, 30

Osman kissed his wife repeatedly after being rescued from the mine, which he had joined four months ago as a temporary worker. He had earlier sent a video message to his wife and daughter Britany saying: “I will fight to the end to be with you”.

Jose Ojeda, 46

The widower who suffers from diabetes served as a secretary for the trapped miners. Usually a master driller, Ojeda was on medication throughout the ordeal and subsequently was one the first to be rescued.

Claudio Yanez, 34

Yanez was proposed to while in the mine by his long-term partner Cristina Nunez, via video link. The couple, who plan to marry as soon as possible, have two daughters together.

Mario Gomez Heredia, 62

Reported to be the “spiritual leader” of the mining camp, Heredia organised a subterranean chapel and coordinated efforts with psychologists above ground in Camp Hope. Heredia, who has a lung condition, began his mining career as a boy of 12, learning the trade from his father. He is the oldest member of the group.

Alex Vega, 32

Vega’s father Jose, who is also a miner, evaded the rules against family involvement in the rescue effort by giving officials a fake name. A heavy machinery mechanic who has worked as a miner for 9 years, Vega Jr suffers from kidney problems and hypertension. His wife Jessica said he was worried about his debt problems while trapped underground.

Jorge Galleguillos, 56

Galleguillos is suffering from hypertension and high blood pressure. He has told his wife and family members he has “not been coping well” while underground. He is also suffering the effects from an old injury- he broke a rib last year. He was the only miner to emerge from the capsule with a full beard.

Edison Pena, 34

Pena emerged with the weaker group due to his hearing problems. In a bid to keep fit, Pena reportedly ran up to 10km a day in the mine’s tunnels. He also asked his family to send down Elvis Presley music for his ipod. As he emerged from the capsule, he told the crowd: “For all who have made this possible, I thank you”.

Carlos Barrios, 27

Carlos Barrios is a part-time miner who also drives a taxi. The shift-leader at the time of the accident, Barrios reportedly did not like dealing with psychologists while trapped underground.

Victor Zamora Bugueno, 33

A mechanic who does not normally work in the mine, he went into the mine on the day of the accident to fix a vehicle. Likes horse racing and soccer and joked that in the mine no-one could tell him to have a wash.

Victor Segovia Rojas, 48

An electrician. Given the role of giving a daily report on the situation in the mine. He described an “eternal darkness, that wears you down day by day”. Married with four children.

Daniel Herrera Campos, 27

Truck driver. Had role of paramedic’s assistant in the mine.

Omar Reygadas, 56

Bulldozer operator and leader of the Grupo Refugio. He has worked at the mine for many years. His children have kept a diary of their lives while he has been in the mine.

Esteban Rojas, 44

In charge of maintenance at the mine, Esteban Rojas was the 18th man to emerge from the dark tunnel. While incarcerated he promised his partner of 25 years, Jessica Ganiez, he wants to marry her.

Pablo Rojas, 45

The 45-year-old had worked at the San Jose for only six months when the accident happened. He was trapped alongside his cousin Esteban Rojas.

Dario Segovia, 48

Drill operator and son of a miner, he was first taken down a pit by his father when he was just eight. His father was also trapped in a mine once, for one week. Dario’s sister Maria has taken a leading role at Camp Hope.

Yonni Barrios, 50

Barrios was known as the “doctor” because of the first aid skills he gained from helping his diabetic mother as a child. He was given responsibility for monitoring the health of colleagues during the 69 days. In his letter to his wife he said he felt like he was in hell in the first few days after the cave-in. Since being trapped, his wife has discovered he has a mistress.

Samuel Avalos, 43

Samuel had worked in the mine for just five months. Underground he was given responsibility for checking air quality in the area where the miners lived. He is a father of three.

Carlos Bugueno, 27

Bugueno was one of the men taking it in turns to look after sending and receiving packages via the supply pipes. He is a childhood friend of fellow rescued miner Pedro Cortez.

Jose Henriquez, 54

Henriquez has worked in mining for 33 years. He is a preacher and became the miners’ pastor and organised daily prayers in the underground chamber.

Renan Avalos, 29

Renan is the brother of Florencio – the first miner to emerge in the early hours of Wednesday. The 29-year-old had only been working at the San Jose site for 5 months.

Claudio Acuna, 35

Acuna reportedly proposed to his girlfriend, and mother of his children, during his time trapped half a mile underground. On the 9 September he spent his birthday in the underground chamber.

Franklin Lobos, 53

Lobos is already famous in Chile having been a professional footballer who led his home team the Regional Atacama players to promotion to the first division of Chilean soccer in 1980.

Richard Villarroel, 27

Villarroel, one of the younger miners, is said to have found work at the mine because he wanted to see the northern Atacama desert as well as earn money. He was working as a mechanic when disaster struck in early August.

Juan Aguilar, 49

Mr Aguilar was one of the supervisors in the group of 33. Aguilar’s wife Cristy Coronado stayed in a tent above the mine at Camp Hope during the ordeal.

Raul Bustos, 40

A hydraulics expert Raul Bustos arrived at San Jose after Chile’s earthquake in February to start work as an engineer.

Pedro Cortez, mid 20s

Cortez is the cousin of miner Carlos Bugueno, also in the group. An electrician, he helped install the communications system used to speak to rescuers on the surface. Cortez was the 31st man to emerge and was greeted by Chilean flags and balloons.

Ariel Ticona, 29

Ticona became a father during his incarceration, with his wife giving birth to a baby girl on 14 September. He has seen a video of his new daughter, named Esperanza – “hope”.

Luis Urzua, 54

Shift leader Luis Urzua was the last miner set free by rescue teams at San Jose, ending the most complex mining rescue mission in history. He was a father figure during the 69-day wait to be rescued, helping organise food rationing and a sense of “micro-society” amongst the men.

In pictures: see rescued Chile miners photo gallery