The trapped miners in Chile

[McMouse]

have been told to sing, play games and write letters to their loved ones in order to keep themselves busy. Call me pedantic but can they not just do some mining?

[Bobbisox]

pedantic

[craft1948]

Will they still get paid, and will they be charged for accommodation?

[dotty.]

that would sap their energy, and ceate an unserrkled atmosphere, and cause them to need more water and air , if they were injured whilst carrying on working they would not have medical accistance, you were actually being sarcastic weren't you?

[McMouse]

No dotty, some digging towards the rescue shaft would speed things up.

[TTG]

Too dangerous. Probably don't have the correct equipment to dig upwards safely.

Also see dottys post.

[paddywak]

Nice idea mac but it doesn't work like that. I assume from the way you're talking that you've never had anything to do with the mining industry, quite apart from the points dotty mentioned, how would they support the new tunnel they made? unfortunately except in very rare cases the newly dug tunnel needs some kind of support, also where would they dispose of the spoil? its surprising how much a cubic metre of rock bulks out too when broken down. Nice idea but as I said its not really practicle

[dotty.]

they must be amazingly resilient men and all working together to keep their spirits up, they will be national heroes if the rescue works out for them, it will have been an amazing success and I hope they are given the rest of thier lives off to live in comfort and security.