Chilean miners tearful in latest video

The video is more personal than previous footage released by the Chilean government. It contains messages from the miners to their loved ones – 12 men send messages to their families for about 30 seconds each.

Although the miners are mostly upbeat, some of the men break down when they speak about their families.

The personal messages contrast with earlier videos released, in which the men use the camera to give a tour of their surroundings and the conditions which they will have to endure in the coming months.

Small diameter holes have already been drilled to communicate with the men and deliver food, water and other suplies. The conditions of five of the miners, who were thought to be suffering from depression, have improved after they received food and news of their families.

Psychological pressure
Within the group of 33 men trapped, leaders will have emerged very, very quickly, James Thompson, clinical psychologist and senior psychology lecturer at University College London, told Channel 4 News on Friday. Within 20 or 30 minutes of an accident, certain people will take charge "because that's the ultimate test. Some people will freeze at the shock of what's happened, others will say let's get to safety, let's do this..." he said. The initial leaders of the group, are likely to still be in charge today - some three weeks since the men first became trapped.

With eight men said to be mentally distressed, concerns have risen about the group fracturing. Yet Mr Thompson told Channel 4 News this is unlikely. He said: "There's such a lot going on in trying to survive together that (the group fracturing) is less likely. If they were in an open space, like soldiers broken away from their regiment, then I could understand it - people trying to go their different ways.

"But there's no different way for them to go. And mostly the breakdown will be very strong anxiety in being incapable of coping, which others can be - shall we say - on-hand therapists to help them. So I would say cohesion would be mostly what you'd predict."

While the men are said to have reacted calmly to the news they may not see daylight until Christmas, Mr Thompson said this is simply because they are miners and they understand the situation well. He said: "They are miners, they know how far down they are - they apparently tried to get out through some ventilation shafts before. I think they understand what the real risks are. The minister commented that they took it pretty well - but then he added, but we mustn't imagine that will be the case in the long term."

It is essential that the men trust people above ground at Camp Hope, he said, and that rescue workers are honest with them over the progress of the operation.

Yesterday it was reported that mining engineers in Chile have come up with a “plan B”, which could see the 33 men trapped deep underground at the San Jose mine rescued sooner.

According to the head of the rescue operation, Andre Sougarret, plan B would involve using the borehole made by a probe which reached the miners on Thursday. Officials said that if plan B were put into action, some of the miners would have to lose weight to fit through this shaft.