Millions of people across the world tune into live TV coverage of rescue

Rescue operation completed in just over 24 hours - half the expected time

Mine rescue specialist Manuel Gonzalez the last man out at 4.33am

With remarkable speed - and flawless execution - miner after miner climbed into a cramped cage deep beneath the Chilean earth, was hoisted through 2,000 feet of rock and saw precious sunlight after the longest underground entrapment in history.

By 1.55am BST all 33 had been pulled to freedom, as the operation was completed in half the expected time.

They were closely followed by the rescue workers who had taken the capsule - nicknamed Phoenix - into the mine to oversee the evacuation.

Job well done: Manuel Gonzalez, the first rescuer down into the collapsed mine, waves at the cameras as he is the last to leave Carlos Mamani, from Bolivia, arrives to the hospital of Copiapo, Chile. Mamani was the fourth of 33 miners rescued Chilean miner Osman Araya (R) is welcomed by his wife Angelica as he comes out of the Fenix capsule after been brought to the surface Chilean President Sebastian Pinera (R) as he greets Bolivian miner Carlos Mamani (L) after Mamani was rescued from the collapsed San Jose gold and copper mine Chilean President Sebastian Pinera leads the 33 rescued miners in singing the national anthem in celebration of the remarkable operation Claudio Yanez, 34, is hugged by a relative as he becomes the eighth miner to exit the rescue capsule Ecstatic Relatives and friends react as the first miner emerges from the bore hole Ecstatic Relatives of Dario Segovia celebrate as he is brought to the surface Escape hatch Mine workers and government officials look into the hole as the rescue capsule is lowered into the mine Herrera Campos embraces his mother. Herrera was the 16th miner to be rescued First line (L-R), Alex Vega Salazar, Ariel Ticona Yanez, Carlos Bugueno Alfaro, Calros Barrios Contreras, Carlos Mamani Solis, Claudio Acuna Cortes, Claudio Yanez Lagos, Daniel Herrera Campos, Dario Segovia Rojas, Edison Penaa Villarroel and Esteban Rojas Carrizo. Second line (L-R) Florencio Avalos Silva, Franklin Lobos Ramirez, Jimmy Sanchez Lagues, Jorge Galleguillos, Jose Ojeda Vidal, Jose Henriquez Gonzalez, Juan Illanes Palma, Juan Aguilar Gaete, Luis Alberto Urzua, Mario Gomez Heredia and Mario Sepúlveda Espina. Third line (L-R) Omar Orlando Reygadas, Osman Isidro Araya Acuna, Pablo Amadeos Rojas Villacorta, Pedro Cortez, Raul Enriquez Bustos Ibanez, Renan Avalos Silva, Richard Villarroel Godoy, Samuel Avalos Acuna, Victor Segovia Rojas, Victor Zamora Bugueno and Yonny Barrios Rojas Incredible The capsule begins to rise with Florencio Avalos inside through the tiny hole drilled into the chamber Jimmy Sanchez arrives at the Copiapo hospital for a full check-up after being rescued from the San Jose mine Job well done Manuel Gonzalez, the first rescuer down into the collapsed mine, waves at the cameras as he is the last to leave Mario Sepulveda celebrates with rescue workers after becoming the second miner to reach the surface at the San Jose mine in Copiapo Miner Osman Araya arrives as the sixth miner to be hoisted to the surface Mission accomplished The rescue team hold up a sign after the last miner reaches the surface Omar Reygadas, 56, gestures on his knees after becoming the 17th of 33 miners rescued from the San Jose mine after more than two months underground Relatives and friends of miner Carlos Barrios react while watching the rescue operation on a TV screen at Camp Hope outside the San Jose mine. Barrios was the 13th miner to be rescued Relief The son of Florencio Avalos breaks down in tears as his father arrives on the surface Residents observe the rescue of the miners trapped in the San Jose mine, on a large screen in a public square in the nearby town of Copiapo Thank goodness The oldest rescued miner Claudio Mario Gomez, 59, kneels as he becomes the ninth to exit the rescue capsule