'Alive' Crash Survivors Support Chile Miners
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Sunday, September 05, 2010
Miners trapped deep underground in Chile have been contacted by four survivors of a famous 1972 plane crash in the Andes mountains.
Speaking to the 33 miners on video link, the four Uruguayan survivors said they brought a message of hope to the miners and their families.
They were among a group of 16 who endured extreme conditions for 72 days before being rescued in Chile. The miners have now been stuck 2,300ft (700m) underground for a month. They must now wait two to four months for engineers to drill an escape shaft. The Uruguayan survivors met relatives of the trapped miners at the San Jose mine before speaking to the miners via video.
They said they had come to show their solidarity with the miners, as will as to express their thanks to Chile for rescuing them 38 years ago.
And they said they were confident the miners would come out alive. The four Uruguayans were flying to the Chilean capital Santiago in 1972 to play a rugby match when their plane crashed high in the Andes mountains.
Twelve of the 45 people on board died in the crash and 17 died later.
But 16 survived for 72 days lost in the snow at 9,800ft (3000m) above sea level before two walked out and found help. Some of them were forced to eat the flesh of their dead companions to stay alive.
Their ordeal inspired a best-selling book and the 1993 Hollywood film, "Alive."
Relatives of the miners welcomed their gesture of support.