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Chile Rejoices as Miners Taste Freedom

After thirty-three Chilean miners spent more than two months trapped below ground, they began to emerge like clockwork from the San Jose mine that has held them prisoner. The strongest of the bunch, Florencio Avalos was the first to make the half-mile journey in a missile-like capsule at 12:11 a.m.

Standing by to greet him were his wife and 7-year-old son, who was openly sobbing. The first to wrap the miner in his arms, though, was Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

The second man out, Mario Sepulveda said: “I think I had extraordinary luck. I was with God and with the devil. And I reached out for God.”

Within the first nine and a half hours of the operation, eleven men were brought to safety. The ninth, Mario Gomez, 63, dropped to his knees and bowed his head in prayer. He suffers from silicosis, a lung disease common to miners and had been receiving medication lowered down the mine shaft.

It is expected that all of the miners will be on the surface before the sun rises Thursday, barring anything unforeseen. Rescue workers have been periodically lubricating the spring-loaded wheels that allow the 13-foot tall capsule to ride smoothly through the shaft.

Initially it was planned that a huge Chilean flag would obscure the scene but at the last moment it was decided to allow the world to view the miraculous rescue sights and sounds.

After being briefly reunited with loved ones, the mine survivors are being taken by helicopter to a medical facility for evaluation and treatment. Most are expected to remain hospitalized for a minimum of 48 hours.

Psychological evaluations will be part of the medical protocol. The miners have survived more time trapped underground than anyone on record and experts expect that many of them will experience difficulty because of the ordeal.

Check out more photos and rescue video below:

Photos: WENN, PicApp