Unsung hero who was first to go down the shaft and was the last man to 'turn out the lights'

This is the mine rescue expert who volunteered his own life to be the first person down the shaft.

Manuel Gonzalez was strapped into the tiny capsule and lowered down 2,040ft to the 33 trapped miners at 1.55am yesterday.

The former professional footballer had vowed to be the last man out and he kept his promise after ensuring all the miners and five other rescuers had safely got out again.

Waving to the camera, bowing and then offering up a prayer, he then climbed inside Phoenix 2 and was then hauled the 2,040ft up the shaft.

As he emerged to massive cheers on the surface, rescue colleagues jokingly asked if he had switched off the lights and made the bed, before helping him on to the ground.

Wearing bright orange overalls, he descended slowly down the shaft making safety inspections of the rock and checking telecoms equipment with the capsule.

On his arrival, cameras showed him shaking hands and hugging the trapped miners in the chamber before calmly explaining the rescue plan to them.

After he was successfully hauled out of the collapsed San Jose mine, Mr Pinera asked him what he was thinking on the way up.

He said: 'I was thinking that I hope this never happens again.

'There must be changes to mining so this doesn't happen again.'