Chilean miner Edison Pena hugs his wife after being brought to the surface in the twelfth place, on October 13, 2010. Pena, who is 34, was reportedly among the most depressed of the trapped men and asked rescuers to send down a photo of the sun. He tried to run everyday underground for exercise.RODRIGO ARANGUA
Less than two days after he was raised from a Chilean mine, Edison Pena walked out of a hospital and into a wall of cameras.
Mr. Pena was one of three rescued miners authorities planned to release Thursday night. After more than two months trapped in the dark, his first taste of his new life as a free man was decidedly bright. Arriving at his home he was spotlighted by a blaze of camera lights, reporters opening the door to his vehicle in an attempt to press him for a few precious words about his experience.
He emerged from the vehicle and issued a few brief statements.
"I want to send this message to everyone that we had a bad time there," he said. "Thank you for believing that we were alive. ... All the prayers of the people - at least, for me, I got strength from that."
Mr. Pena then walked into his house, where a Chilean journalist was waiting, apparently to negotiate a promised interview, giving Mr. Pena a taste of the task awaiting each of these men in coming days: to profit as much as they can from their traumatic experience.
Families have begun demanding roughly $10,000 per interview, although some media organizations are said to be offering more.
Medical authorities said they expect the rest of the men to be released by Sunday; many will be discharged Friday.
Nathan VanderKlippe