Already deprived of sunlight, fresh air and their loved ones for 26 days, 33 miners trapped deep in a Chilean mine must continue to forgo two other pleasures: alcohol and cigarettes, NASA doctors said.
Facing a wait of about two to four months as rescuers race to drill a narrow shaft 700m vertically down to extract them, the miners are in good spirits and included wine on a wish-list of items to be sent down a tiny borehole from the surface.
Health officials have sent them high-protein, high-calorie foods in narrow plastic tubes to help them build up their strength after losing an estimated 10kg each during 17 days entombed after a cave-in before they were found alive.
Booze will have to wait.
“From the alcohol standpoint, we need to first get their nutrition up before we make any considerations there,” said James Michael Duncan, NASA’s deputy chief doctor, who flew with a team of medical experts to Chile to help advise the government on one of the world’s most challenging rescue bids.
Some of the men have also asked for cigarettes, and health officials have sent them nicotine patches and gum.
“It’s an environment that’s pretty enclosed and we don’t want to contribute to any of the problems within the atmosphere of the mine,” Duncan said.
Used to managing prolonged periods in confined areas on space missions, NASA is also advising on how to keep the men mentally fit for the weeks ahead.
Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said the men were holding up remarkably well in the hot, humid tunnel.
However, they face a long haul. Rescuers began drilling the escape shaft on Monday night and by early Tuesday evening, had bored down 8m — about 1 percent of the target depth.
Dramatic video footage taken by the men last week with a camera sent down the grapefuit-sized borehole serving as their lifeline to the outside world, showed them bearded, their torsos bare to cope with the heat. Some were visibly thin.
The men have designated areas for sleep and card games while freeing space to keep items like toothpaste and deodorant. The men have also asked for laxatives to help regulate their digestive systems after initially surviving on two mouthfuls of canned tuna and half a glass of milk every 48 hours until supplies ran out.
Rescuers have sent them miniature projectors so they can watch video clips of soccer greats Pele and Maradona, and have also sent cards, dominoes and letters from their family members.
The owners of the San Jose mine testified before an investigatory commission of lawmakers on Tuesday, defending their company against accusations they had skimped on safety.
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