The heroic rescue of 33 Chilean miners, trapped for 69 days 2,000 feet below the ground, has riveted viewers around the world. But the most miraculous part of the story is not the rescue. The real miracle - and most inspiring part of this story - is how shift boss Luis Urzua managed to overcome darkness, despair and the prospect of starvation to mobilize a team, who worked together to ensure that every man survived and thrived in the worst of conditions.

November 2011, 3 of the Miners came to the UK for The London Speaker Bureau and delivered their first ever global corporate speaking engagement since they were rescued from a collapsed copper and gold mine in San Jose, Chile. Their story is compelling and our very own Joanna Jones was fortunate enough to spend 3 days with them gaining valuable insight into the nitty gritty of what actually happened whilst they were trapped in the mine and how their lives have changed. Earlier this year the miners signed a movie deal for a Hollywood blockbuster to be made.

The Miners

Luis Urzua – Luis is a trained topographer born in Santiago. At the time of the mining accident, Luis had 31 years experience in the Chilean Mining Industry. He was the shift supervisor of the mine when the accident occurred, and his natural leadership abilities made him invaluable inside the mine.  Taking his leadership into consideration, the rescue team chose him to be the last miner out. He currently holds the record for the longest time trapped underground.

Samuel Avalos – Samuel was working as a street vendor, until he decided to go to the north of Chile to improve his situation. At the time of the accident, Samuel had only 5 months experience in the mines.

Juan Carlos Aguilar – when he was still very young, Juan Carlos decided to see his fortune in the mining industry of northern Chile.  At the time of the accident, he had been working in the mines for 30 years. While in the collapsed mine, he was in charge of overseeing one of the three rescue holes. He also proposed to his longtime girlfriend from inside the mine.

The Miners want to take their message around the globe and are available for speaking engagements.