First Trapped Chilean Miner Successfully Reaches Surface

The cascade of media attention on the attempted rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners came to a head tonight in riveting fashion, as the first of the miners, Florencio Avalos, reached the Earth’s surface, and a cheering crowd, after 69 days trapped over 2,000 feet below.

It was a long, incredible ordeal for the miners, but thus far the rescue is working almost exactly as planned, with a special capsule slowly lowered down to the miners and then gradually brought back up to the surface. It’s a long way from completion – it has to be repeated 32 more times, after all – but certainly, this is a heartening start – and an amazing story of perseverance for the 33 trapped individuals.

Video of the capsule being raised to the surface – and Avalos being reunited with his family – below. Once put in place, this was a phenomenally-executed rescue plan, and just a phenomenal moment in general.

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