Chile’s trapped miners were offered a trip to Britain when they are freed to see soccer team Manchester United play, The Sun reported today.
The 33 cave-in victims were invited to see one of the world’s most famous teams play at Old Trafford by Sir Bobby Charlton. The club legend — whose father was a miner — made the offer as rescuers were drilling down to the trapped workers.
A relative of one of the men entombed for more than two months said, “They are all massive football fans so definitely plan to go.”
A rescue shaft, that was expected to take until Christmas to drill, reached the miners Saturday.
World Cup winner Sir Bobby, 72, recorded the invitation in a message sent to the miners. A Manchester United spokesman confirmed the club would do whatever it can to welcome the miners and arrange for them to meet the players.
Testing of a metal cage to hoist the miners to the surface is poised to begin Tuesday, once the 28-inch wide shaft was reinforced. Two rescuers, one a Navy medic, will go down in the 24-inch wide elevator, dubbed the Phoenix, to join the men.
Hauling the miners up from the San Jose gold and copper mine is set to start Wednesday.
