THIRTY-THREE Chilean miners who had been trapped underground for 69 days last year have decided to take their story to the big screen.

Chile is trying to decide what to do with the three rescue capsules built specially to bring out the 33 miners who were trapped half a mile underground for 69 days.

Three of the 33 rescued Chilean miners were celebrating at home today after being released from hospital with a clean bill of health.

The Chilean miners began leaving hospital today and got a taste of their new lives outside the doors – a swarm of reporters, TV producers, publicity agents and even football teams desperate for a piece of their story.

The last of the Chilean miners, the foreman who held them together when they were feared lost, was raised from the depths of the earth today in a joyous ending to a 69-day ordeal that riveted the world

ONE by one, the miners trapped for 69 days in a dungeon that could have been their tomb far beneath the Chilean desert climbed into a rescue capsule and made a smooth ascent to the surface yesterday.

Families and rescuers were celebrating today as trapped miners steadily emerged from their half-mile-deep dungeon under the Chilean desert.

The first of Chile’s 33 trapped miners is expected to be lifted to the surface in the early hours of tomorrow after more than two months below ground.

The agonising ordeal for 33 Chilean miners who have spent two months trapped underground was nearing its end today.

A drilling rig today punched through to the underground chamber where 33 miners have been trapped for 66 days under the Chilean desert, raising cheers, tears and hopes.

A drill has broken through the rock to Chile's 33 trapped miners, offering them escape after two months underground.

RESCUERS hope to reach the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile within 24 hours, the mining minister says.

Rescuers in Chile are lowering capsules containing rehydration tablets, glucose and oxygen down a long hole to 33 miners who surprised the world by staying alive while trapped a half-mile underground for two-and-a-half weeks.

Rescuers reinforced a lifeline to 33 miners trapped deep underground today, ready to keep them supplied with food, water and medicine during the four months it may take to dig them out.

Carlos Sainz moved into the overall lead of the Dakar Rally after stage five today as overnight leader Stephane Peterhansel was delayed by transmission problems to his BMW.