The 33 Rescued Chilean Miners: Who Are They?

The first miner to be rescued was Florencio Avalos. As the 31-year-old emerged from the capsule, he was greeted by his son and wife. He received a big bear hug from Chilean president Sebastian Pinera. Florencio filmed videos sent up to the rescuers and relatives.

Mario Sepulveda was the second miner to be rescued. The 39-year-old was heard calling out for his wife Elvira as he made his way towards the surface. He told rescuers: "I was with God and with the devil - but God won."

The third miner to be rescued was 52-year-old Juan Illanes Palma. When asked how his trip in the "Phoenix" capsule was, he replied: "Like a cruise!" Juan served as a corporal for Chile in its conflicts with Argentina.

The fourth miner to be rescued was Carlos Mamani Solis. On emerging from the capsule, the 23-year-old kissed his waiting wife Veronica and shouted: "Gracias, Chile!" Carlos was the only Bolivian member in the group of miners. He started working in the mines just five days before becoming trapped.

Jimmy Sanchez, 19, was the fifth miner to be rescued. He is the youngest of the 33 miners and had only been working in the mine for five months before the accident.

Osman Araya, aged 30, was the sixth miner to be rescued. When he left the capsule he embraced his wife Angelica. Whilst trapped in the mine, he told her: "I will fight to the end to be with you."

Jose Ojeda, 46, was the master driller and the seventh miner to be rescued. He wrote the message that alerted rescuers: "All 33 of us are safe in the shelter."

Claudio Yanez, a 34-year-old drill operator, was the eighth miner to be rescued. He has two daughters with his girlfriend, Cristina Nunez, who proposed to him in a letter sent down to the miners. They plan to marry as soon as he emerges from the mine.

Ninth miner to be rescued, Mario Gomez, 63. On emerging Mr. Gomez, the oldest miner, kissed his wife, Liliana Ramirez and fell to his knees in prayer. Mr. Gomez sent up a letter shortly after the miners were found alive, saying that the mining company "has got to modernize."

Tenth miner to be rescued, Alex Vega Salazar, 31. Salazar, whose father is a mining veteran, was greeted by his wife Jessica. Salazar had expressed worries over mounting debts whilst trapped but his wife has reassured him that she has cleared them all.

Jorge Galleguillos Orellana, 56, was the eleventh miner to be rescued. Officials are concerned about his health after admitting in one video that he felt unwell.

Edison Pena, 34, was the 12th miner to be rescued. Underground, he was known as "the runner," running up to five miles through the mine every day to stay in shape.

Carlos Barrios, 27, was the 13th miner pulled to safety. He returns to his 5-year-old son.

The 14th rescued miner is Victor Zamora, 33. Victor didn’t normally work in the mines but went inside on the day of the accident to repair a vehicle. He told his mother he was content to be in the mine because personal hygiene was no longer an issue.

Victor Segovia, 48, was the 15th person to be rescued. The electrician and father of five reportedly kept a diary during his time underground, and asked for more paper and pencils from those above ground.

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

Omar Reygadas, 56, was the 17th miner to be rescued. He was instrumental in organizing life below ground. He reportedly also survived several other mine collapses.

Esteban Rojas, 44, was the 18th miner to be rescued. He kneeled to pray with his wife by his side. In the meantime, she placed an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe over him.

Pablo Rojas, 45, emerges as the 19th miner to be rescued. He reportedly joined the mine crew six months ago to provide financial support for his son's medicine studies.

Dario Segovia, 48, waves as the 20th miner to be rescued. He is a lifelong miner, whose father introduced him to the trade when he was eight years old.

Johnny Barrios Rojas, 50, marks the 21st miner rescued. He's a veteran on staff, turning in 25 years of service, while additionally acting as the group's medic.

to become the 22nd to be rescued from the San Jose mine in Copiapo October 13, 2010. Twenty-four of 33 trapped miners have been rescued from the gold and copper mine in Chile's northern Atacama desert in a painstaking operation still under way. REUTERS/Alex Ibanez/Chilean Presidency/Handout (CHILE - Tags: DISASTER SOCIETY ... POLITICS) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS MORE

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera shakes hands with Carlos Bugueno, 26, who was the 23rd miner rescued. Bugueno sports a love for soccer, highlighted by his request for underground piping of game broadcasts.

Jose Henriquez, 55, greets his wife as he becomes the 24th member brought to safety. Reports have surfaced regarding Henriquez's heroics during the ordeal. He apparently helped save several of his colleagues who had passed out in January due to gas exposure.

Renan Avalos, 29, comes forth as the 25th miner rescued. Avalos' brother Florencio was the first of the 33 miners freed from captivity.

Claudio Acuna, 35, gestures as he becomes the 26th miner to see sunlight. Acuna made waves for his romantic move during the distress, as he proposed to his girlfriend from below ground.

Franklin Lobos, 53, arrives above ground as the 27th miner rescued. Lobos carried a soccer ball, symbolizing of his former career as a professional player. His successes included a place on the 1984 Chilean national team that qualified for the Los Angeles summer Olympics.

Richard Villaroel, 23, was the 28th miner recovered from the collapse. He returns to his wife who is in the late stages of her pregnancy.

Raul Bustos, 40, was 30th in line to see daylight. Bustos was affected by both of Chile's recent catastrophes. February's tsunami wrecked the shipyard where he worked, prompting him to head north to join the mining team. Two months later, he and his new co-workers were held captive by the mine collapse.

Pedro Cortez, 25, signals as he becomes the 31st miner relieved from the 69 days of tribulation. Cortez was instrumental in the recovery, installing a communications system between the 33 trapped miners and surface.

Ariel Ticona, 28, was the next-to-last miner to reach recovery. He returns home to a great gift. His wife, Elizabeth Segovia (above), gave birth to their second daughter while he was trapped underground. The couple named the child "Hope."