First Chilean miners leave hospital

Juan Illanes, Edison Pena and Carlos Mamani left the Copiapo hospital where the 33 miners were being treated in a Government vehicle which was mobbed by photographers.

Still wearing dark sunglasses to adjust to the sunlight, 52-year-old Juan Illanes said being trapped in the mine for 69 days after the cave-in had taken him “to the limit”.

As he arrived home to cheers from neighbours and friends, he said: “This is really incredible. It hasn’t sunk in.”

Celebrity

Offers of tickets, gifts and world trips are pouring in as the miners adjust to their new lives in the media spotlight.

I didn’t think I’d make it back, so this reception really blows my mind. Miner Edison Pena, an Elvis Presley fan who has been invited on an all-expenses trip to Graceland, Presley’s former home in the United States.

Elvis Presley fan, miner Edison Pena, has been invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Graceland, Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tenessee.

“I didn’t think I’d make it back, so this reception really blows my mind,” said 34 year-old Pena.

In a bid to keep physically and mentally fit, Pena ran up to 10km a day through the mine’s tunnels while listening to Elvis Presley music.

The other 30 miners are still undergoing a series of tests and treatment in hospital and are due to return home on Friday.

Many of the miners had to undergo dental surgery for gum lesions or tooth decay.

Several others suffered skin lesions during the 69-day ordeal, while the oldest miner, Mario Gomez, was suffering from pneumonia.

Channel 4 News obtained the first interview to be shown in the UK with one of the miners, Richard Villarroel.

He said the men had been “waiting for death”, but did not surrender.

“We were waiting for death,” he said. “Our bodies were consuming themselves. I was getting skinnier every day. I lost 12 kilos.

“I was afraid I would never see my child again. We could do nothing else but pray. I have never prayed before. I learned how to do it there. I came close to God. I did not surrender to death.”

Read the compelling words of those involved in the Chilean miners rescue – rescuers, relatives, heads of state and the miners themselves.

Normal life

The hospital’s deputy medical director Jorge Montes said the three discharged patients would be able to “resume normal life and physical activity” and would no longer need their sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sunlight.

Dr Montes said that although “the general state of the miners is incredibly good,” there was a high risk that mental health issues could arise in the future.

They could all develop a post-traumatic disorder, but some people cope with trauma better than others. The miners’ doctor, Jorge Montes.

He said: “The psychological state – really we don’t know what it’s going to be like in the long term.

“Obviously, in the next two months they need to be under supervision. Eventually they could all develop a post-traumatic disorder, but some people cope with trauma better than others.”

What next for the 33 Chilean miners?
Post-traumatic stress expert Professor Stephen Joseph, of the University of Nottingham, told Channel 4 News the group are all "likely" to suffer problems associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as nightmares and intrusive thoughts. 

However, he said: "It is only when things like this become persistent, after one month, that PTSD is diagnosed...What people need in these early days is information. 

"When they have nightmares or flashbacks, people can be really terrified, even suicidal, thinking they are going crazy. But the information - that this is not unusual, the symptoms will probably go away over time - is very important." 

Read more on what's next for the 33 Chilean miners? 

As medics cleared the men to go home, the miners’ relatives began packing up at the tent settlement at Camp Hope.

Nostalgia and sorrow

One of the miner’s relatives, Maria Segovia, said as Camp Hope was packed up: “I feel nostalgia and sorrow at the same time, because we are leaving a lot of memories behind here.

“A lot happened. We went through terror – hell itself.”

The last of the miners was pulled to the surface late Wednesday night local time, sparking a wave of celebration across the country.

Media coverage was saturated by the rescue operation, with up to one billion people tuning in to watch each man pulled to the surface after 69 days underground.

Channel 4 News looks at the Chilean miners “miracle” rescue in numbers.