This illustration from Le Figaro explains in detail how the trapped men are to be rescued, if all goes to plan. The first phase has begun, drilling a guide hole 38cm across, to be widened to 66cm. The drilling progresses at between 8 and 15 metres a day, and the depth is 700 metres. The trapped men will work to clear the debris as it falls, moving it into the tunnels. When the shaft is complete, phase 2 begins. A small container capable of holding one man at a time will be lowered. The journey to the surface for each man will take 3 hours, so the rescue of all the men will take 3 to 5 days.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Hello Tom. That’s good, thanks. They showed it on TV the other evening, plus the papers here have been full of it too; it looks frightening, but it appears they have these good plans in place. We can’t imagine what it must be like for the men down there, they are very are brave. Did you see them looking into the TV camera? I just pray for a successful and safe escape from down there.
Hope you are well Tom.
Hello, Val. I am well, thanks, but sorry to hear about your troubles
Amazing stuff! I’m sure the relief of being rescued will help to while away the 3 hours on the cage but just imagine it: claustrophobia and cramp.
My troubles are nothing to what those miners are suffering Tom, but thanks for mentioning it. What I need is a drop of French wine, in France preferably, make up the spare bed please 🙂
Janus, if these men suffered from claustrophobia they wouldn’t be miners. Val, why don’t you come to France for some decent medical treatment? (snort) Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Thanks for this Tom. I can’t imagine anything worse… but, as you say, these men would not be miners if they suffered from claustrophobia.