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'Los 33' offer support to 'Los 44' as Chilean miners hope for survival of missing Argentine submariners

Scenes from the operation to bring 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for more than two months back to the surface, in October 2010 
Scenes from the operation to bring 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for more than two months back to the surface, in October 2010

Several of the Chilean miners who were trapped underground for two months have offered to travel to Argentina to support the missing submariners if they are found alive.

The 44 Argentinians have not been heard of for seven days, since their submarine, the ARA San Juan, lost contact on November 15. It was travelling from Patagonia to a submarine base in Mar del Plata, and the crew included Argentina's first female submariner, Eliana Maria Krawczyk.

On Wednesday Enrique Balbi, spokesman for the Argentine Navy, said that an unusual noise was detected last week on the day the submarine went missing, near its last reported position.

He declined to say whether it indicated an explosion or other emergency aboard the German-built submarine.

San Juan
The ARA San Juan

And one of the 33 Chilean miners who was trapped underground said that he and some of his fellow survivors were sending their best wishes, and offered to support "Los 44".

Mario Sepulveda, nicknamed "Super Mario" and played by Antonio Banderas in the film of the disaster, told Argentine newspaper Clarin that they were praying for the missing submariners.

"I really hope that our miracle happens to them," he said.

Asked what advice he would give them, he said: "Keep breathing."

He said that he and five other members of "Los 33" - Omar Reygadas, Daniel Herrera. Franklin Lobos, Pablo Rojas and Carlos Barrios - were all in touch about the Argentine disaster, and wanted to help.

"Many times the phrase 'I understand' is an intention, or a form of speaking," he said.

"But in this case my sentiments are totally authentic.

"These 44 brothers and sister are in a very small space, different to ours.

"We're all talking about this among ourselves every day."

Banderas
Antonio Banderas played Mario Sepulveda in the film of the Chilean miners' story

He said that, if the submariners are successfully rescued, they were prepared to travel to Argentina to help them cope with the aftermath of their experiences.

"I hope they think of us, and cling on to our miracle, without losing hope," he said.

"If they could listen to us I would tell them to be well organised, and to respect the commands given to them. That's what saved us."

The 47-year-old, who now makes a living from motivational speeches, said that he imagined that among the submariners there would be leaders within the hierarchy - and natural leaders.

"There needs to be someone who lifts the others up," he said. "That's what happened to us."

Another of the miners, Mr Reygadas, said that the submariners' situation made his own memories of entrapment come flooding back.

"I found out about it two days late, because I was in an area without phone signal," he said.

"And when I got signal again, my phone was buzzing with messages from the other miners. And it made me relive it all - when the rocks came down, when we realised we were trapped, and when we didn't know if we'd make it out or not.

"Emotionally, their situation and ours are both equally difficult in terms of depth of entrapment and the situation on the surface. But they are trapped in a machine, somewhere in the sea."

San Juan
Malvina Vallejos, sister of missing submariner Celso Oscar Vallejos hangs a supportive message for the 44 crew members of Argentine missing submarine outside Argentina's Navy base in Mar del Plata

Franklin Lobo, a professional footballer before he became a miner, who now works as a driver, said he sympathised with the terror they would be feeling as oxygen levels decreased.

The Argentine authorities have described the situation as critical, as it is believed that the submarine only had enough air for the crew to survive seven days.

"I can remember when the oxygen levels dropped," he said. "It was desperate.

"Your body feels really heavy, and everything is an enormous effort. We knew that on the surface they were helping us, and that they had found us. That helped our spirits.

"So for the submarine crew, it is much harder to keep calm about breathing."

He said he sympathised with the agonising wait of the families gathered at Mar del Plata.

"Living through that anxiety and anguish, not knowing where they are, is tremendous. We have to give them strength, and tell them not to loose hope."