For 69 days, they had been trapped more than 600 metres underground and their families waited above, rescuers worked around the clock and millions of people followed the story from around the world.
Then, on October 13, 2010, one of the most remarkable rescue operations in modern history reached its conclusion.
All 33 Chilean miners were safely back above ground.
The miners had been trapped since August 5, when a collapse at the San José copper and gold mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert cut them off from the surface.
For the first 17 days, nobody on the surface knew for certain whether they were alive. Then rescuers retrieved a message attached to a drill bit confirming that all 33 men had survived.
An international rescue effort followed, with engineers, drilling specialists and medical teams working to bring the men home. Australian mining expertise was among the contributions to the operation.
The miners were lifted to safety, one at a time, in a specially designed capsule called Fénix 2.
The first miner, Florencio Ávalos, reached the surface shortly after midnight on October 13. The final miner, shift supervisor Luis Urzúa, emerged later that evening.
The celebrations continued as the rescue workers themselves were brought back to the surface.
On October 13, 1974, Frank Sinatra performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden in a concert televised around the world.
Known as The Main Event, the performance came during Sinatra’s return to the stage after announcing his retirement in 1971.
With songs including My Way, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and The Lady Is a Tramp, Sinatra reminded audiences why he remained one of the world’s great entertainers.
He would continue performing for another two decades.
On October 13, 1792, the cornerstone of the White House was laid in Washington, DC.
Designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, the building would become the official residence of American presidents.
John Adams and his wife Abigail became its first residents in November 1800, while construction was still unfinished.
Paul Simon turns 85 today.
Born on October 13, 1941, Simon became one half of Simon & Garfunkel before enjoying an extraordinary solo career.
His songs include The Sound of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Graceland and You Can Call Me Al.
Entertainer Marie Osmond turns 67, while British comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen turns 55.
Do you remember?
Were you watching when the Chilean miners finally emerged? Those scenes of men embracing their families after more than two months underground remain difficult to forget.
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