18 Oct 2010

Thanksgiving ceremony held at mine

6:06 am on 18 October 2010

About 12 of the 33 miners freed last week after 69 days underground in Chile, have returned to the mine for a ceremony celebrating their rescue.

A service of thanksgiving was held at the mouth of the San Jose copper and gold mine where the miners were trapped.

The BBC reports they were mobbed by reporters on their arrival at the camp, despite their complaints about media intrusion.

Doctors say all the miners are in good health; only one remains in hospital.

The service of thanksgiving was jointly led by an evangelical pastor and a Roman Catholic priest.

Some of the rescuers who helped bring the miners to the surface, on Wednesday, also attended.