Trapped Chilean miners to watch videos of great football matches to maintain sanity

LONDON - The 33 Chilean miners trapped underground in San Jose gold and copper mine will attempt to keep their sanity by watching videos of great football matches during the expected three month-long operation to rescue them.

Videos of games featuring legends will be lowered into their chamber along with miniature projectors.

Wilson Avalos, a relative of two trapped miners, said that he was selecting which football videos to send down.

“We will send them videos of Diego Armando Maradona, Ronaldinho and Pele, because they are huge soccer fans. I’m sure that will really help them keep their spirits up,” The Telegraph quoted Avalos, as saying.

The miners have been trapped half a mile underground for 20 days after the roof of the mine collapsed on August 5.

Rescue workers drilling down into the mine had almost given up hope of finding the miners alive when on Sunday they successfully drilled a narrow hole into an emergency shelter 2,300ft down where the men had gathered.

Officials have already sent fresh clothes, medicine and games down the 2,300 feet (700 meters) bore hole to help keep the men physically and mentally fit for the gruelling wait ahead. (ANI)