Chile miners' road back to reality is paved with money

Their families had continued to receive their wages during the 69 days they spent trapped underground. The men had earned about £1,000 a month, up to 40 per cent higher than a typical miner because of the known instability of the gold and copper mine.

Many have vowed never to return underground — or have been forbidden by their families — but they hope to make money from writing a book jointly, and from agreeing terms for media interviews.

Mario Sepulveda, whose ecstatic celebrations symbolised the joy of their release, is being spoken of as a potential TV star after appearing in the videos beamed back from their cavern.

Their employer, the San Esteban mining company, has filed for bankruptcy protection and had its licence to operate withdrawn, but a website set up by the government to help all 300 miners left unemployed has generated around 1,000 offers, from bulldozer driver to mechanic to risk reduction specialist.

There is also the likelihood of substantial compensation — 27 of the men have launched a joint negligence suit against the mine owners and government regulators.

Juan Eduardo Herrera, a senior employee of Codelco, the state-owned mining firm, told The Independent there had been a "regulatory collapse". He said: "Regulators should have closed the mine. But miners and their families often push inspectors to let them carry on working in a dangerous mine, because if a mine shuts down, they are out of a job."