Chilean Mine Collapse | The Phoenix | 4
45:01 Share

This episode of Against the Odds contains explicit language. Please be advised. Deep in the collapsed San Jose mine, shift supervisor Luis Ursua arrives at the new medical station. He wants to see how the minor they've appointed nurse is doing with his patients. What he sees nearly makes him gag. A circle of shirtless miners with sores festering across their backs in the damp, humid mine.

A flesh-eating fungus has begun growing on the walls and ceilings. It rains down on the miners, covering their clothes and skin. Ursua pulls the nurse to the side to discuss the men's condition. "How fast is it spreading?" "Different men have different rates. They've sent me down an antifungal cream to treat it, but these men have it so bad, the cream's not doing much. I worry these sores, they might get infected." Ursua nods.

"Okay, keep these men here so they can heal. I'll rotate them off for the work detail. Until then though, ask the doctors on the surface if they-" "And up ahead, we have our nursing station." Ursúa turns and sees Mario Sepúlveda strut around the corner, his arms outstretched like an amusement park tour guide. He's followed by Ursúa's second in command, Florencio Ávalos, who's operating a video camera sent down by the Chilean government.

The half-naked, fungus-eaten men stare resentfully at Sepulveda as he chatters away into the camera. As you can see, our nurse is keeping us healthy so that we can all rejoin our families even fitter and more handsome than we were before.

Urzúa's blood boils. He was told that the president of Chile wanted footage to edit into an uplifting rescue video. Urzúa had no interest in being a ham, so he left the narration of the video to Sepúlveda, figuring the charismatic young miner would be good on camera. Now, he regrets that decision. This should be a serious video, to show the world the harsh reality of conditions in the mine more than three weeks since the collapse.

Instead, Sepulveda is acting like a reality TV host and ignoring the sufferings of his fellow miners. Urzuwa is about to give Sepulveda a piece of his mind, but then he recalls the telephone conversation he had yesterday with the government-appointed psychologist. The shrink told him, now that the miners have been found, the hard part begins. Before, the 33 miners were united in their isolation from the outside world.

Now that they're in touch with the surface, talking to wives and girlfriends, thinking about their lives after they finally get rescued, they can easily start to turn on each other. Ursua takes a calming breath to rein in his anger. He doesn't know how much longer they'll be stuck in the mine, but he does know that their survival depends on working together. He watches quietly as Sepulveda finishes his tour of the nurse's station, then struts back down the ramp.

A droplet from the ceiling falls onto Ursua's bare arm. He quickly brushes it off, hoping his skin doesn't become the fungus's next victim. But he knows that the fungus isn't the only thing eating away at his men. They've been told it could take rescuers 120 days to drill a tunnel wide enough to lift them out. All that waiting is going to push the miners' patience and sanity to their limits.

The shrink was right. The hard part has just begun. In our fast-paced, screen-filled world, it can be all too easy to lose that sense of imagination and wonder. If you're looking for new ways to ignite your creativity and open your mind to fresh perspectives, then let Audible be your guide. Whether you listen to stories, motivation, or any genre you love, Audible is the place for you.

you can be inspired to imagine new worlds, new possibilities, and new ways of thinking. There's more to imagine when you listen. Plus, as an Audible member, you'll get one title a month to keep from their entire catalog. If you're into mythology, then I recommend the title Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. He's an amazing storyteller that narrates this unique version of the Norse myths.

Listen along. New members can try Audible free for 30 days. Visit audible.com slash the odds or text the odds to 500-500. That's audible.com slash the odds or text the odds to 500-500. Against the Odds is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.

Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance too with the Name Your Price tool from Progressive. It works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at Progressive.com to join their over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive.

Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. From Wondery, I'm Mike Corey, and this is Against the Odds.

After almost a month underground, the 33 trapped Chilean miners finally have cause for hope. Rescue workers drilled a borehole big enough to send them food and medicine, but not big enough to pull them out. Now, the top experts in the world are working around the clock to drill a hole large enough to lower down a man-sized capsule and get the miners back to the surface. But with their health failing and the rumbling mountain threatening further collapse, the miners are running out of time.

It's up to the rescuers to get them out before they start turning on each other. This is episode 4: The Phoenix. Mario Sepulveda watches the Chilean national soccer team playing Ukraine on live TV. Two days ago, rescuers sent down a fiber optic line and a portable projector

The miners hung a white sheet here in the ramp's rocky corridor, so now they can watch sports, movies, and even see themselves grow into global celebrities. In fact, before the game tonight, the Chilean national team wore shirts that said Fuerza Mineros. It means Miners Strong.

Today has easily been the best day of Sepulveda's time underground. The video he narrated was a hit with the media, who started calling him "Super Mario." His wife and son sent him a letter saying how proud they are. And this afternoon's report from the rescue experts said that two drills, Plan A and Plan B, are racing each other through the mountain with a third backup drill on the way.

Sepulveda takes a long, satisfying sip from one of their many bottles of fresh, clean water. He can't wait to be rescued, so he can sell his story and get rich. There's only one small problem. A few days ago, one of Chile's major newspapers printed one of his letters to his wife and son. In it, he wrote: "I am the absolute leader. I organize things, give orders, and, as always, I avoid losing my temper.

But the most beautiful thing is that I am respected and nothing is done without me knowing about it." When his fellow miners saw the article, many didn't take kindly to his bragging. Sepulveda tried to explain it away, saying he just wanted to impress his son, but they weren't buying it. So now, he's catching side-eye and snide comments, especially from the mechanics, who have consistently treated Urzuwa as their leader, even when he refused to lead.

The ingratitude of the other miners leaves Sepulveda feeling angry and bitter. How could they forget everything he did for them? He climbed up the air shaft to find an escape when the mine first collapsed. He led the prayer groups. He handed out the meals. Does all that count for nothing? Just because he wanted his son to look up to him? The game ends. A two to one loss for Chile. The miners go their separate ways back to their various encampments.

As one of the mechanics walks by, Sepulveda hears him whisper beneath his breath. "See you later, absolute leader." Sepulveda has had enough. He marches up the ramp to the mechanics workshop on level 135. Luis Ursua and all the mechanics are there, getting ready to go to sleep.

Sepulveda's cheeks flush red as he vents his fury. Look, you assholes. You know what a boss does? A boss looks out for his guys 24-7. A boss does the dirty work and never asks for thanks. A boss leads. So, who do you think has done all that?

He looks straight at Urzua before he finishes his rant. "It's me, you assholes! No one else down here. Me!" And with that, he spins on his heel and storms out, leaving the mechanics and Urzua to stand there in stunned silence. Rescue leader Andrei Suguret oversees a bulldozer leveling off the ground for tomorrow's arrival of what is now their Plan C drill.

A large, powerful oil drilling rig. It's been 35 days since the collapse of the San Jose mine. And for once, Sugaret is feeling optimistic. A hundred yards off to his right, their Plan A drill is on target. Drilling straight down with one of the biggest rigs in Chile, the Strada 950. The problem is, it'll take until December to reach the men.

But, 50 yards to his left, what they're now calling Plan B, is outpacing it. Plan B follows the original breakthrough borehole, widening it with a bigger drill bit, so it will be big enough for the rescue capsule. The Plan B drill is manned by Jeff Hart, an American driller who just flew in from working on water wells in Afghanistan.

Hart is one of the world's best operators of the Schramm T-130 XD drill, which is what they're using to dig the Plan B hole. Sugaret is grateful to have him on the team. He turns toward a sudden cascade of shouts. It's coming from the Plan B drill. He hustles over to find that the Schramm T-130 has stopped completely. Hart stands at the control panel, looking utterly baffled. What's going on?

We were drilling down around 860 feet when suddenly we lost all pressure. Sugaret's stomach sinks. He watches as Hart directs his team to begin the lengthy process of retracting the drill's long steel connecting tubes to clear the borehole. Hours later, the drill bit comes out and they see the problem. Something has torn it to pieces. An on-site geologist lowers a camera down the hole to see what destroyed the bit.

When it finally reaches the bottom, they see the culprit. An iron reinforcement rod used to fortify the mine's tunnels. The iron rod snapped off a chunk of the drill bit, which is now blocking the hole. Sugaret curses beneath his breath. The San Jose's outdated maps have led them astray. Now, if they can't figure out some way to extract the broken drill bit, the Plan B borehole is useless.

Sugaret pats Hart on the shoulder and marches back to the command hub tent. He's going to need to order some new supplies. Magnets. The biggest ones he can find, to try and pull out the broken bit. In the refuge, Luis Ursua munches his last morsel of cake and washes it down with a carton of milk. After days of slurping down doctor prescribed packets of glucose gel, he and the other miners are finally getting to eat real meals.

Suddenly, the mind goes silent. The drone of faraway drilling disappears. Orzua knows that one drill had to be shut down yesterday. Now it sounds like the other one has stopped working too. He rises from his seat and announces, I will call the top. He exits the refuge, feeling the concerned looks of his men on his back. He knows that despite the real food and makeshift television, their patience is nearing its breaking point.

Once again, a drilling setback has snatched hope away from them and they're on edge, ready to burst. Urzuwa hurries up the ramp to the emergency telephone. The other miners follow behind like baby ducklings. Soon, he's on the line to Sugeret, trying to suppress the alarm in his voice. "We don't hear any drilling." "The Plan A drill had a hydraulic malfunction. We're working on it." Urzuwa's jaw clenches. He knows the men won't take this news well.

But he has no choice. He has to relay the message. Of all the miners, Sepulveda is still the most hot-headed. Ursua makes sure he looks directly at him when he delivers the update of the broken Plan A drill. But this time, it's not Sepulveda who flies off the handle.

It's the man Ursua least expects. His number two, Florencio Avalos. What? Forget this. They're incompetent. Look, calm down. Sugaret is the best rescue leader in all of Chile, and he's got the best drillers in the world working for him. They will get us out. But Avalos is having none of it. He turns and stomps back down the ramp. If you want to wait here forever, that's fine. But I'm going to climb my way out.

A handful of the younger men follow Avalos, marching off to join him on his impetuous expedition. Once again, Urzúa looks to Sepulveda, but this time, hoping he'll be an ally. He could really use the charismatic young miner to step in like he has before, to make a rousing speech about solidarity and the need to stay calm. But Sepulveda just stands there,

his arms folded across his chest. Staring back at Ursua with a tight-lipped smile, Ursua realizes that if he's going to maintain order, he's going to have to do it on his own. Hours later, Ursua paces anxiously up and down the ramp. He tried to talk Avalos out of his climbing expedition, warning him it was too dangerous, but Avalos refused to listen, and a little while ago, he took some of the younger miners and left.

Now, Razua winces at each faraway rumble of rocks falling somewhere higher up in the collapsed mine. Any one of them could be the sound of Avalos being crushed.

Then Ursua hears boots trotting his way. He turns and breathes a sigh of relief when he sees Avalos coming down the ramp, back from his exploratory mission. "Boss, we went up a ventilation shaft and we found a way out. There's a crack that leads to a huge new chasm that must have opened in the collapse. With some climbing gear, I think we could use it to get to the surface."

Ursua listens, his face expressionless. He knows that climbing blindly up a new cavern inside the unstable mountain is a suicide mission. But he also knows that Avalos doesn't want to hear that from him. He needs to find another way to get his eager young second-in-command to listen to reason. Good work, Avalos. Let's tell Sugaret about your plan.

The two men walk to the telephone station. Urzua lifts the receiver and asks to speak to Sugaret. "My foreman went up one of the ventilation shafts and found a new chasm that he thinks could lead to the top. He wants to try to climb it." Sugaret immediately snaps back, an edge in his voice. "Tell your foreman he's lucky to be alive. We all know about the chasm and the rockfalls that tumble down there every few hours. He could have been crushed, and if he tries climbing it, he'll be crushed for sure.

When we tell you to stay put, we mean it, okay? Ursua points the telephone receiver towards Avalos so he can hear. His face floods with disappointment. Ursua feels bad for the young miner, but he's glad he didn't get himself killed. Ursua knows that for Avalos and all the miners to hold it together, the drills need to restart. He expresses his concern to Sugaret. What's happening with the drills? Are the magnets working to retrieve the broken drill bit for Plan B?

They're not generating enough attraction. We've switched to a different approach, but you're not going to like it. Try me. We're building a spider. Urzua barely stifles a groan. A spider is a last-ditch effort for object retrieval. The process is simple. You lower a metal jaw down a hole, apply heavy pressure from above to crush the jaw's teeth around the blockage, then drop back up.

It's a mining technique that's over 150 years old and it's hardly ever used anymore. Urzua has little hope it will succeed. He wraps up the call and replaces the phone on the cradle. He hears no drills, no sign of rescue, only the sound of rocks rumbling somewhere overhead, reminding them that as long as they're trapped down here, none of them are safe.

When you're hiring, time is of the essence. That's why more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide use Indeed to find exceptional talent fast. Indeed's powerful matching engine works quickly. So quickly that, according to Indeed data worldwide, every minute 23 hires are made on Indeed.

But it doesn't stop there, because Indeed also helps you hire better. 93% of employers agree Indeed delivers the highest quality matches compared to other job sites, according to a recent Indeed survey. That's because their matching engine is always learning from your preference. So the more you use Indeed, the better it gets.

So let Indeed be your go-to for making great hires quickly and easily. And listeners of the show, get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash the odds. Just go to Indeed.com slash the odds right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash the odds. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.

These days, it feels like we're all just on the hunt for ways to optimize our health and feel our absolute best. The only problem is, with all these supplements out there, it can be really tough to know which ones are actually worth your time and money. That's where today's sponsor Symbiotica comes in. Symbiotica is a premium supplement brand that's raising the bar when it comes to purity, potency, and efficacy. Their supplements are formulated with high-quality ingredients. That's why their formulas don't have any seed oils, preservatives,

toxins, artificial additives, or natural flavors. Plus, while most supplements can taste chalky or sulfuric, Symbiotica's supplements have amazing flavors like citrus lime, vanilla chai, or wild berry. I've been loving the magnesium supplement from Symbiotica. Being low in magnesium, I've made it a priority lately to take it consistently. I love how I can take it on the go and ensure I'm never missing a dose. Feel more energized, alert, and balanced with high-quality supplements that work.

Head over to Symbiotica.com and use code ODDS for 20% off and free shipping on your subscription order. Minister of Mining Lawrence Goldborn watches as a steel cord reels the spider up from the Plan B borehole. In a few minutes, they'll know if the primitive technique succeeded in extracting the broken drill bit. For Goldborn, a lot is riding on this moment. He was the one who ordered the spider.

After magnets failed to retrieve the drill bit, a young engineer explained the spider concept to him. The other engineers were opposed to the idea at first, but as Minister of Mining, Goldborn pulled rank and ordered them to try it. When Goldborn first arrived at the San Jose mine, he was a fish out of water, making ignorant suggestions and asking dumb questions.

He knows men like Sugaret thought of him as a clueless bureaucrat. And maybe they were right. Now he'll find out if he's learned enough over the course of the rescue operation to actually make a difference. Goldborn watches as the spider's crushed metal jaw rises from the borehole.

It's been intentionally flattened under pressure, in the hope of trapping whatever was inside its jaws and pulling it to the surface. A drill operator steps forward and ignites his blowtorch to cut through the jaw's teeth. Sparks flare in all directions. Goldborn leans forward, squinting against the bright glare. He doesn't exactly know what he's looking for.

But then, it becomes obvious. The broken chunk of tungsten drill bit tumbles free from the spider like a yolk from a cracked egg. The drillers cheer and clap Goldborn on the back. He laughs, his exuberance bubbling over, and then shouts out, Alright, okay, alright. Let's get back to work.

Jeff Hart, the American driller, gives him a thumbs up, then heads back to his drilling station, leaving Goldborn to savor the moment. Because of him, the Plan B borehole is back on track. Mario Sepulveda stands alone in Level 44, the lowest part of the mine. This is his private sanctuary, a place he's marked with stacked rocks, overlooking a pool of runoff water from the drills.

He comes down here whenever he needs some alone time to practice his narration for a video, rehearse his speeches to the men, or just stare at his reflection in the water. Usually, the way his voice echoes off the cavernous walls fills him with confidence, but today it's not working. It's Chilean Independence Day, a celebration of freedom, but Sepulveda feels the exact opposite of free.

He's trapped in this cursed mine. Trapped with men he's losing trust in. Trapped inside his own dark thoughts. Every day Sepulveda's stress mounts. He fears that it's only a matter of time before he begins to lose it completely. Like one of the youngest men, the poor kid swears he sees the ghosts of dead miners roaming the ramp at night. Sepulveda stares into the muddy water and all at once his issue becomes crystal clear.

The devil has gotten to him, filling his mind with despair, making him lose hope. He takes to his knees and begins to pray. Lord, please protect us. The devil is in our minds. Have pity on us and make us as we were before. And Lord, start with me, because I am afraid of evil. Suddenly, a slab of rock breaks free from the wall and crashes down into the pool.

Sepulveda nearly leaps out of his skin, convinced Satan himself is coming for him. He shouts out, "No! You'll never take me! I'll never be your son!" He picks up fallen rocks and violently hurls them into the dark. Then he turns and breaks into a sprint, racing back up the ramp to the refuge, away from his solitude, away from the devil, back to his fellow miners.

Andre Sugaret wipes his sweating forehead with a handkerchief as he marvels at the American driller Jeff Hart putting in another 18-hour shift. It's October 9th, week 10 of Operation San Lorenzo.

The broken drill bit has been cleared and the path of the hole has been readjusted to avoid the mine's iron reinforcement pillars. Now, the Plan B drill is only a few feet away from breaking through. As a career miner, Sugrit watches Hart with something approaching awe.

The American drill operator works almost by instinct, keeping one boot on the SRAM T130's stabilizing platform to feel the vibrations from the drill bit grinding away over 2,000 feet below. When he senses a change in the drill's progress, he subtly shifts the drill's engine speed or torque to keep it on track. Sugaret anxiously peers down into the hole

Now that they've almost broken through, an irrational pang of fear jolts through him. Will the rescue capsule fit? Yesterday, he triple-checked the dimensions. It's eight feet tall and 21.25 inches in diameter. The plan B hole is 29 inches wide, so that should leave plenty of clearance.

He leans over Hart's shoulder to check the drill's control panel readout. GPS on target. Pressure, torque, and rotations steady as she goes. Everything appears to be in order. This is it. After 65 days, they're finally going to complete the drilling stage of Operation San Lorenzo.

But then, the drill emits a loud popping sound and stops Stone Cold. Sugaret turns to Hart. No, no, no, no. What happened? I don't know. I didn't feel it hit anything. Somewhere 2,200 feet down that dark abyss, some malevolent force is keeping them from drilling those last few inches. The damn mountain is fighting against them again.

His mind races. Will they have to use more magnets? Another spider? Or is the Plan B hole lost for good this time? Suddenly, the drill stirs back to light. The engine rumbles. Steel pipes rotate. Sugaret looks at Hart. "What the hell is going on?" "I don't know." With a shrug, Hart raises his boot back on top of the platform. And, only a few minutes later, the pressure gauge drops.

Sugrit exhales a sigh of relief. At the drill's current depth, that can only mean one thing. They've broken through. Sugrit unclips his walkie-talkie. It's done. Let the families know. At 8.02 a.m., the alert siren wails over Operation San Lorenzo. In Camp Esperanza, hundreds of voices erupt in cheers. Plan B has completed the rescue tunnel.

Now, all that remains is for them to finally get the miners out.

Luis Urzúa points to the precise locations where he wants a demolitions expert to pack explosive charges. Yep, and one more right there. That's perfect. The miners have one last task before they're rescued. Because the borehole enters the tunnel at an odd angle, they must blast away a piece of the wall surrounding it. Only then can the rescue capsule slide far enough out of the borehole for them to open it. All right, that's it.

That's enough. Everyone, go on. Get to safety. Before the collapse, this kind of blasting was routine for the miners. Now, Ursua can see the fear on their faces as they scurry back down to the refuge. He can't blame them. He's nervous himself. If this goes badly, their explosive charges could cause another cave-in and bury the borehole behind tons of rubble. But they have to do it if they have any hope of getting out.

Ursua personally checks each wadded mass of dynamite. They only get one shot at this. Satisfied, he leads the demo expert back down the ramp. Once they're tucked safely around the bend, he gives the go-ahead. "Okay, light it." The demolitions expert lights the blasting wire. Ursua watches the spark as it sizzles down the black cord towards the borehole. He covers his ears. And then,

The controlled explosion booms through the mine. Ursua silently counts to five. He hears no rock falls rumbling after the explosion. The coast seems clear, so he walks back around the bend. As the dust settles, he sees the result of their efforts. A textbook perfect carve out, leaving just enough clearance for the rescue capsule.

But they'll need to clear the rubble from their blast, and Urzuwa has just the man for the job. "Sepulveda, we need a front loader to clear the way." Sepulveda hops into the cab as industrial scooper and begins shoveling the blasted rocks clear from the wall. Even though they've had their fair share of friction, Urzuwa is glad to let the hot-headed young miner share in this moment.

He knows Sepulveda's heart is in the right place, even if sometimes he has a funny way of showing it. Soon, the miners crowd together and peer up at the cleared 29-inch borehole. Not a single ray of sunlight reaches them. That's because the hole isn't a straight shot to the top, but twists and curves through over 2,000 feet of stone. It's a treacherous path each one of them will soon have to travel. Once again,

The mine rumbles, as it has off and on every day for the last ten weeks. This time, to Ursua, it sounds like a menacing growl, as if the mountain wants to close up the space that has been drilled from it. The electrician, Edison Pena, says what's on everyone's mind. They want us to travel 2,000 feet. Through that? If the mountain moves, the capsule will get crushed like a beer can.

The other miners mutter in agreement. Urzúa remains silent, but he knows Peña is right. After everything they've endured, this final stage of their rescue will be the most dangerous one yet. Lawrence Goldborn's palms sweat as he watches Manuel González, the first member of the retrieval team, open the grated metal door of the rescue capsule and climb inside. They've dubbed the capsule the Phoenix.

The blue, red and white cylinder was made at the Chilean naval shipyards in consultation with NASA. Its sides have rubber wheels to help smooth the ride up to the surface, and its curved steel top should deflect any falling rocks. The retrieval team hitches Manuel Gonzalez into the interior harness of the Phoenix. The straps pinch down his bright orange jumpsuit. Chilean President Sebastián Piñera is back on site.

and now he leans forward to offer words of encouragement. "Good luck, Manuel. I have total confidence in you." Golborn looks up at the yellow crane that will lower the capsule. It can handle 54 tons of weight, 100 times more than the fully loaded Phoenix.

It's already completed multiple test runs. Now, we'll have to lower and raise the Phoenix more than 35 times, up and down a curved borehole taller than a 130-story building. The first few trips will deliver a three-person rescue team, starting with Gonzales. Then, the first miner will be raised back to the surface. Each trip is expected to take nearly 50 minutes.

The door to the Phoenix shuts. Gonzalez flashes a thumbs up through the door's metal grill. Goldborn flashes one back, doing his best to project confidence. Beside him, Sugret gives the crane operator the sign to proceed. At 11.17 p.m., the Phoenix begins its descent into the San Jose mine. Goldborn holds his breath. The last phase of Operation San Lorenzo has officially begun.

This season, Instacart has your back-to-school. As in, they've got your back-to-school lunch favorites, like snack packs and fresh fruit. And they've got your back-to-school supplies, like backpacks, binders, and pencils. And they've got your back when your kid casually tells you they have a huge school project due tomorrow.

Luis Ursua leans beside electrician Edison Pena to check the live feed camera installed at the base of the borehole.

Between this and the camera in the Phoenix itself, the team above ground will be able to track the progress of each man's rescue. Ursua has triple checked everything. The video feeds are working. The base of the borehole is prepped and clear of debris. He's even made sure no man is taking too many souvenirs that could exceed the capacity of the capsule.

He turns to find all 32 of his miners waiting at the base of the borehole, their ears tilted to the sound of the approaching phoenix. In just a few minutes, the miners will see somebody from the outside world face to face for the first time in over two months. Ursua is not one for displays of emotion, but at this moment he feels compelled to speak.

We have all been pushed beyond the breaking point, yet every one of you rose above. Every one of you contributed. Every one of you inspired me. You are not just men. You are miners. And for that, I owe you my life. Thank you. He finishes his speech with his eyes locked on Sepulveda. The alpha dogs hold each other's gaze. Then Sepulveda swallows hard.

Urzua can see that he's overcome with emotion at this moment too. No boss, thank you. The phoenix gently slides from the borehole and touches down on the ramp. The rescuer steps out in his clean orange jumpsuit. Instantly, Urzua's men surround him, cheering and crying tears of joy. The rescuer laughs at their enthusiasm. There's a shitload of people up there waiting for you guys.

The rescuer sees Luis Ursua's white supervisor's helmet and approaches. "So, who's the brave first man up?" Ursua turns to Florencio Avalos and nods. Avalos steps forward. "I am." It's a privilege to be the first man out, but it's also a risk. If something goes wrong, it could cost him his life. Ursua made sure Avalos knew what he was volunteering for.

But Avalos didn't hesitate. The rescuer beckons him towards the capsule. "Okay, let's get you strapped in." Avalos crosses to the Phoenix. It's time to go home. Andres Sugaret anxiously watches the live video feed that shows Avalos' tense face inside the capsule. It's been 47 minutes since Avalos began his ascent. He should be getting close.

Finally, the white top of the phoenix crests over the lip of the borehole. The media close in, jockeying for the best shot of Avalos reuniting with his waiting wife and child. Avalos's young son begins to weep. Then, the capsule door opens. When Avalos steps out, his son breaks free and dashes into his father's arms.

Everyone breaks into applause, moved by the scene. Goldborn, the president, even members of the media. Sugaret files this feeling away to celebrate later when the job is done. That's one, there's still 32 more miners left to go. Mario Sepulveda now takes his turn inside the Phoenix.

The retrieval team members open the door of the capsule for him and guide him into the harness, snapping the clamps snug beneath his armpits. Sepulveda waits, feeling like a caged animal. He wants to be Super Mario, to spring into action, to be a hero. But now, he's just a passenger.

Lead rescuer Manuel Gonzalez gives a thumbs up to the live feed camera. The Phoenix gently slides upward and Sepulveda's journey to the surface begins. At first, the claustrophobia of the space gets to him. He felt trapped before by the mine, but this is like being packed in a sardine can. There's nothing he can do. He must fully trust the rescuers. The Phoenix jostles as it navigates a slight curve in the tube.

but the rubber wheels smooth out the transition. The capsule's faint interior light glows on the borehole's wet rock walls as they slide by. Sepulveda breaks into an ear-to-ear smile. He did it. He survived. Below him is the devil that held him in captivity for 69 days. Above him is a nation that will greet him as a hero.

The temperature in the borehole drops. He can feel cool air on his face. Light pours down on him from above, like a light from heaven. The sound of the motor lifting the phoenix to the surface grows louder in his ears. He shouts, unable to contain his excitement. Vamos! Hurry! Peals of laughter echo back at him. It sounds like a lot of people up there. This is it. His moment. Then...

He's on the surface. The instant the rescue team opens the door, Sepulveda bursts out like a superhero. He finds his wife in the crowd and wraps her in a passionate embrace. Then he runs to the president and opens a cloth bag to present him with a souvenir. The crowd begins to chant his name.

He steps forward, wraps President Pinera in a hug, and hands him a chunk of rock from the refuge. The president erupts in laughter and draws him back in for another embrace as the crowd chants on. Twenty-one long hours later, Luis Ursua waits at the base of the borehole for the phoenix to return. He's all alone now, except for the members of the retrieval team.

All 32 of his fellow miners have been successfully delivered back to the surface. He has finally fulfilled his obligation to make sure every man on his shift is safe. The Phoenix touches down on the floor of the ramp, or Zua takes one last long look around him at the craggy walls that were his home for the last two months. Often, they seem to him like the walls of a tomb,

Today, they're simply a sight he'll be glad to never see again. The retrieval team members open the door of the Phoenix. By now, the capsule's red, blue, and white paint is scuffed from all its trips up and down the mountain. Ursua steps inside, and the rescuers harness him in. On the way up, Ursua doesn't really reflect on what he's been through. He's had plenty of time for that. Now, he looks forward.

to eating a home-cooked meal with his daughters and son, listening to his wife recite poetry on their porch beneath the stars. A warm shower, soap, a pillow. Never again will he take a single moment of it for granted. Before he knows it, the phoenix is nearing the top. He slips on the dark sunglasses the rescuers gave each miner, preparing himself for the glare of the floodlights.

The first person he sees through the Phoenix's metal grate is his son. The rescue team opens the door and he carefully steps out, aware that his whole country is watching. He hugs his boy. Then he turns and sees the president who pulls him in for a tight embrace. Ursua leans close so the president can hear him over the cheering of rescue workers. Mr. President, as the supervisor, I hand the shift over to you.

And with that, he takes off his white helmet for the last time. Of all the miners, Super Mario Sepulveda has been the most active after the rescue. He worked with Hollywood producers on a movie about the miners' lives. He started a foundation to build homes for victims of a Chilean earthquake. And he fathered a third child, a healthy baby boy.

Sepulveda still bears grudges against some of the men in the mine, but not Luis Ursua. Time has mellowed his animosity towards his former boss. To any who ask, Sepulveda will declare that he respects and admires Ursua, a man who did what was necessary and got the job done.

Following the success of Operation San Lorenzo, mining minister Lawrence Goldborn was promoted to the Minister of Energy and then the Minister of Public Works. Less than two years after the rescue, he broke ranks with President Piñera and declared his candidacy for the Chilean presidency.

But he had to withdraw when he was prosecuted for tax offenses. In 2018, with Goldborn out of the way, Sebastian Piñera reclaimed the presidency after four years out of office. André Sugaret continued his career as a lifelong miner, continuing to work his way up the corporate ladder...

In January 2021, he was appointed vice president of Chile's state-owned copper mining company, Codelco, the same company he worked for when he was tapped to lead the rescue at the San Jose. Two and a half years after the rescue, Luis Urzúa joined the miners to announce the creation of a new non-profit to aid the poor of the Atacama region, where the San Jose is located.

Many of the 33 attended the press conference in Copiapó, near the San Jose. The men's lives took many different turns since their rescue was watched by 1.2 billion people worldwide. Some, like Sepulveda and Ursúa, used their fame to launch new careers. Others went back to mining work. But they all still share a bond from those 69 days spent together trapped beneath a mountain.

After the press conference in Copiapó, Urzúa and a handful of the younger miners drove out to the San José mine again. They approached the entrance, still covered in chain-link fence and safety netting. Then, they picked up stones and hurled them into the dark mouth of the San José, shouting curses at her. For many, it was a satisfying release, a way to cope with unprocessed traumas.

But as one of the younger miners walked away, he confided to his old boss, Ursua, that the San Jose still holds him in her grasp. He said, "If the mine wants to kill me, it will, even if I'm out here. It has a power." This was episode four of our four-part series, Chilean Mine Collapse.

A quick note about our scenes. In most cases, we can't exactly know what was said, but everything is based on historical research. If you'd like to learn more about this event, we highly recommend the books Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar and 33 Men by Jonathan Franklin.

I'm your host, Mike Corey. Brendan Joyce wrote this episode. Our editor is Maura Walls. Our associate producer is Brian White. Our audio engineer is Sergio Enriquez. Sound design is by Rob Schieliga. Our senior producer is Andy Herman. Our executive producers are Stephanie Jentz and Marshall Louis. For Wondery...

I'm Dan Taberski. In 2011, something strange began to happen at the high school in Leroy, New York. I was like at my locker and she came up to me and she was like stuttering super bad. I'm like, stop f***ing around. She's like, I can't. A mystery illness, bizarre symptoms, and spreading fast. It's like doubling and tripling and it's all these girls. With a diagnosis, the state tried to keep on the down low. Everybody thought I was holding something back. Well, you were holding something back intentionally. Yeah, yeah, well, yeah.

Is this the largest mass hysteria since The Witches of Salem? Or is it something else entirely? A new limited series from Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios, Hysterical.

Follow Hysterical on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of Hysterical early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+.