New book reveals that men trapped underground smoked pot, asked for blow-up dolls
New book reveals that men trapped underground smoked pot, asked for blow-up dolls
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But human reserves alone were not always enough to keep the 33 trapped Chilean miners' morale high, it has been revealed.
The book reveals that Chilean President Pinera wanted to be the first rescuer in the mine
To make their ordeal a little more bearable as they awaited rescue, drugs were smuggled down to them in family letters, a new book claims.
They also sought a further lift during the 69 days they spent 800 metres underground by asking for blow-up sex dolls.
When this was refused because the doctor in-charge feared having to share them would lead to jealousy, the miners had to make do with pin-up posters instead.
Marijuana, posted down a communications shaft, did not necessarily promote camaraderie either, the book says.
One miner, Samuel Avalos, noticed how a group of his colleagues would peel away, he suspected, to smoke the drug.
But he said they "never even offered me one", although he was desperate to relieve the stress of his predicament.
The book's author, Jonathan Franklin, said the small amount of drugs "created more tension than it relieved".
Franklin claims worried officials discussed using a sniffer dog to intercept drugs before they were posted.
Pin-ups
The men's "greatest need", however, was women, Franklin says, and doctors worked on "how to appease the expected rise in sexual desires".
One Chilean doctor monitoring the miners' physical condition while they were trapped in the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile's Atacama Desert, said a donor offered 10 inflatable dolls for the miners, but was turned down.
"I said 33 or none. Otherwise they would be fighting for inflatable dolls: whose turn is it? Who was seen with whose fiancee? You are flirting with my inflatable doll," Dr Jean Romagnoli reportedly said.
Instead, pin-ups from La Cuarta, a Chilean tabloid famous for its girls known as Bomba 4, and pornography were sent.
Cannibalism
The book also tells how, in the first two weeks while the miners' thought they were doomed, their thoughts turned to cannibalism.
On day 17 that spectre faded as the narrow communication shaft reached them and food could be sent down. The miners also vowed to go on a hunger strike.
He also claims in the book, called The 33, that Chilean authorities imposed two blackouts during coverage
of the rescue in October to cover up near disasters as the miners were hauled out.
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He says a billion viewers around the world were "tricked" when the live feed was secretly interrupted and old footage used instead.
Famous!
The miners became famous and had an all-paid trip to Disney Land. Also, some of the miners chose to run the New York City Marathon. Later, the miners also visited Old Trafford.
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