Trapped Chile miners set off dynamite to let rescuers know they were alive

As the first few freed Chilean miners to return home were met by a rapturous welcome last night, after they were discharged from the hospital in Copiapo, it emerged how they had tried to let people on the surface know they were still alive.

In a letter to his wife, one miner, Raul Bustos, said they had set fire to tyres in the hope that the smoke would find its way to the surface, but also, despite the risks, resorted to setting off sticks of dynamite.

Juan Illanes, Edison Pea and Carlos Mamani were welcomed home by their neighbours. Mr Pea said he had not expected to see his home again.

"I didn't think I'd make it back, so this reception really blows my mind," he said, as waiting neighbours showered him with confetti. "We really had a bad time."

Mr Illanes described the first 17 days of the ordeal, before they were discovered by rescue workers, as a nightmare.

Despite the ordeal some of the men plan to return to mining. Osman Araya, 30, said: "We have to keep working. This is part of our trade."

Alex Vega echoed the sentiment. "I want to go back. I'm a miner at heart. It's something in your blood."

Though the men have insisted there were no disputes or arguments during their time underground, there have been reports of physical confrontations.

Daniel Sanderson, a miner whose shift had ended hours before the disaster, said he later received a letter from one of the trapped men that described disagreements that led to blows.

Meanwhile, doctors confirmed last night that at least a further ten of the remaining 30 men would be released from hospital soon.

However, although indundated with offers, the miners have agreed among themselves to remain tight-lipped about their experience surviving the mine collapse, so that they can control the media distribution of their incredible story.

Ximena Alejandra Reygadas, the daughter of one of the trapped miners, says the men intended to split any money they made from giving interviews, making appearances, or providing information for films or books.

She said: "We can't say things to the media without their permission."