# chilean mine rescue cage--could you ride in this claustrophobic trap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612 "2010-10-09T16:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/41 "2010-10-10T14:30:39Z")
> [@CutterJohn](#): > > You’re looking at it all wrong. Don’t think about being in that cage.. Think about being the last guy down there. Alone. For an hour or two. Nobody around. Nobody to watch your back. 2 miles of rock separating you from the nearest human. Waiting for the cage to come back. > > What was that noise? Who’s there? I imagine the last person down there is going to be a medical professional. They’ll probably switch off in shifts, since it’s going to take over a day to get everybody out of there. One doctor for 33 people for 33 hours would end up being pretty useless after a while. I’d do it and I’d do it just fine. I’ve crawled through spaces in caves about the size of the rescue capsule before. Knowing that a) there was an escape hatch if I did get stuck and b) I was going to help people would get me through any worries or antsiness. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/42 "2010-10-13T08:07:30Z")
[0209: As Juan Illanes emerges, he is asked how his trip was. His reply? “Like a cruise!” Smiles all round.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11489439) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/43 "2010-10-13T08:27:20Z")
Six miners have been pulled out safely. Three rescue workers are down in the mine. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/44 "2010-10-13T08:32:11Z")
How does the escape hatch work? It’s in the bottom, last time I heard. Do they just pull a lever, ride down the shaft like a waterslide and yell “whee!”? Or, would they be lowered down on a rope somehow? I only saw one heavy cable going down the shaft, for holding the torpedo. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/45 "2010-10-13T08:39:22Z")
That last guy looked like he was ready to start crying at any given moment. Must be so great to finally be up there again. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/46 "2010-10-13T11:04:11Z")
I stayed up till 4:00 am watching this. I was in awe of the bravery of Manuel Gonzalez who was the first guy down. It hadn’t been done with the weight of a man in the cage yet and he stepped from safe ground into the unknown and will be the last man out as far as the reports are saying. Manuel deserves all the praise and honours that will come his way. Fair play to all involved. A truly excellent example of human ingenuity and bravery. When we do things well we are a great species. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/47 "2010-10-13T12:23:18Z")
thirdname, they are in a harness that has lines. i do hope they are issued pinwheels if they have to go “whee” all the way down the mine. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/48 "2010-10-13T12:39:09Z")
There a graphic on the following page which shows how the escape plan would work if the capsule gets stuck. The bottom part of the capsule dethatches. > **[Chile miners: Lift to the surface](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11527129)** > > Graphic showing how the trapped Chile miners were brought to the surface after two months underground. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/49 "2010-10-13T13:22:39Z")
[1016: Mario Gomez, the ninth miner to be rescued, describes his ascent to Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and Bolivian President Evo Morales: “It was very smooth, I didn’t feel anything.” He explained how he could feel the temperature falling as he came to the surface.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11489439) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/50 "2010-10-13T13:31:19Z")
> [@NetTrekker](#): > > Tranquilizers shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve heard mention of using blindfolds as well. God, no, blindfolds no fucking way. I’ve worn blindfolds for games, but always being able to take them off when I wanted to; I would totally refuse to wear one in a situation in which scratching my forelegs or rearranging my hair would be pretty nigh impossible. I hate being tied (no problem climbing rock walls without a harness, but put a harness on me and the only reason I don’t start hyperventilating straight away is that I don’t allow myself to) and have had a couple of panic attacks in situations in which I felt trapped, but had an MRI once and mostly I was sad that it was over just as I was falling asleep… zzzz… mgrmgs, half an hour mo’, doctor… I’d be perfectly happy to let someone else take the ride while I prepped the material. Seriously. No, no, you go be a hero, I’ll make sure the puréed apple and the blood-test materials are all ready, noooo problem. I’d do it if ordered to, but rather not. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/51 "2010-10-13T13:31:45Z")
Here’s a link to live coverage of the rescue. It refreshes every 90 seconds. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/8058924/Chile-miners-rescue-live.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/8058924/Chile-miners-rescue-live.html) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/52 "2010-10-13T13:53:56Z")
There’s a camera on top of the capsule, pointing up the shaft. It illuminates the passage. The journey seems really smooth, with no rotation evident at all. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/53 "2010-10-13T14:03:08Z")
To answer the OP, if I’d been stuck underground for that long, I’d get in that capsule in a hot second- even if it were for an hour’s trip! ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/54 "2010-10-13T15:43:59Z")
Watching the rescue live. It’s giving me chills. What a great day for them! ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/55 "2010-10-13T16:11:49Z")
Another link for live coverage. [http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/22309266](http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/22309266) I’ve got them both up side by side - the Telegraph page is about 6-7 seconds behind the Yahoo one for me, but it seems to be the same feed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/56 "2010-10-13T16:37:17Z")
Very well put. 😉 I second that thought. Especially since that’s the only way out. Staying behind isn’t really an option. I hope the enthusiasm and welcomes continue for all the miners. It would suck if all the V.I.P.S. left and #23 emerges to find no one to greet him except the paramedics and his wife. > [@](#): > > To answer the OP, if I’d been stuck underground for that long, I’d get in that capsule in a hot second- even if it were for an hour’s trip! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/57 "2010-10-13T17:34:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Very well put. 😉 I second that thought. Especially since that’s the only way out. Staying behind isn’t really an option. > > I hope the enthusiasm and welcomes continue for all the miners. It would suck if all the V.I.P.S. left and #23 emerges to find no one to greet him except the paramedics and his wife. > > > [@](#): > > > > To answer the OP, if I’d been stuck underground for that long, I’d get in that capsule in a hot second- even if it were for an hour’s trip! Last night on CNN families were quoted as saying they would stay until the last guy was out. Last I heard there were 17 out. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/58 "2010-10-13T22:45:33Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Let me see…I can stay down here in this cramped, dark, hot, hell hole, with 2 months accumulated shit, piss and god knows what They’re stuck in a mine, not a well. They have plenty of room and aren’t wallowing in their own excrement. ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612/59 "2010-10-14T11:04:26Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > To answer the OP, if I’d been stuck underground for that long, I’d get in that capsule in a hot second- even if it were for an hour’s trip! Not for the first time in this thread… The OP was **not** asking about whether the miners would get in it. He was talking about the doctor that would have to get in it on the surface to go down to evaluate the miners. Now, of course, we know that six brave souls did exactly this - and stayed until all the miners were out. My admiration for the last rescue worker to leave is enormous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chilean-mine-rescue-cage-could-you-ride-in-this-claustrophobic-trap/556612.md?page=2)