The Great Escape

In pictures: the Chilean rescue, as it unfolded

The world feared they were dead – and will never forget how they lived. Relive the rescue in pictures.
4.09pm, 14 Oct 2010
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THEY WERE UNDERGROUND for 69 days – the rest of the world had feared they were dead. But early this morning, the world watched on in wonder as the last of the 33 trapped miners left the San José mine in Copiacó, northern Chile.

In pictures: the Chilean rescue, as it unfolded
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  • Chilean rescue mission (1)

    The son of Florencio Avalos cries as the capsule reaches the surface. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (2)

    Mario Sepulveda is taken out to the waiting arms of his family. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (3)

    Mario Sepulveda high fives the rescue team. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE Source: HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (4)

    Juan Ilanes is the third man to be freed. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (5)

    Juan Ilanes embraces his President. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (6)

    Osman Ayala holds his wife's face in his hands. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (7)

    Osman Ayala embraces his wife. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (8)

    Jimmy Sanchez unfurls the Chilean flag. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (9)

    Jose Ojeda embraces his stepdaughter. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (10)

    A jubilant Mario Sepulveda gets his first taste of freedom. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (11)

    The wife of Mario Gomez hugs a government official at the San Jose mine. Gomez is the ninth miner to be liberated from the collapsed San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. The miners have been trapped for 69 days since the collapse of the mine on August 5, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (12)

    Mario Gomez, 59, is the oldest and the ninth of thirty-three miners being liberated from the collapsed San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. The miners have been trapped for 69 days since the collapse of the mine on August 5, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (13)

    A still from Chilean national TV, showing the view inside the tunnel from the top of the 'Phoenix' capsule as it hoisted Edison Peña, miner number 12, to the surface.

  • Chilean rescue mission (14)

    Jorge Galleguillos, 55, becomes the eleventh trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (15)

    Jorge Galleguillos, 55, becomes the eleventh trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (16)

    Mario Gomez, 59, is the oldest and the ninth of thirty-three miners being liberated from the collapsed San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. The miners have been trapped for 69 days since the collapse of the mine on August 5, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (17)

    Edison Pe–a, 34, becomes the twelfth trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (18)

    This satellite image from NASA shows the Atacama desert where the San Jose Mine, site of the rescue mission, is ongoing.

  • Chilean rescue mission (19)

    Carlos Barrios, 24, is the thirteenth trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (20)

    President Pinera speaks to President Lula of Brazil, while Bolivian president Evo Moralez (black jacket) looks on. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (21)

    Chilean president Sebastian Pi–nera waits with the family of Victor Zamora, 33, the fourteenth trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010.

  • Chilean rescue mission (22)

    Johnny Barrios, 50, becomes the 21st trapped miner to be rescued from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. He is met by his mistress, of whom his wife only learned while he was trapped underground: he had asked for both to attend the rescue, but his wife refused. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (23)

    HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (24)

    Franklin Lobos, 53, becomes the twenty-seventh rescued miner from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. Lobos was given a football to juggle as soon as he emerged: he is a former professional player. GABRIEL ORTEGA/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (25)

    Richard Villarroel is the twenty-eighth miner to leave the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (26)

    Renan Avalos Silva becomes the twenty-fifth rescued miner from the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. GABRIEL ORTEGA/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (27)

    Ariel Ticona becomes the penultimate miner to leave the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (28)

    Ariel Ticona is the penultimate miner to leave the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (29)

    Raul Bustos is the thirtieth miner to leave the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (30)

    Chilean president Sebastian Pi–era hugs Luis Urzua, the last miner out of the rescue hole at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (31)

    Chilean president Sebastian Pi–era embraces the doctor in charge of the triage medical stage as Luis Urzua became the last miner among the trapped miners to leave the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

  • Chilean rescue mission (32)

    Chilean president Sebastian Pi–era sings the national anthem with chief supervisor Luis Urzua, the last miner out of the rescue hole at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile on October 13, 2010. HUGO INFANTE/GOVERNMENT OF CHILE

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