Miner gives thanks for surviving disaster in Chile

WASHINGTON – A survivor of the Chilean mine disaster has voiced thanks at Washington"s National Prayer Breakfast for the support the men heard during their crisis, saying "God was with us."

Speaking through a translator, Jose Enriquez told President Barack Obama, members of Congress and other public officials how the 33 men had to "organize ourselves down there to face this crisis."

Enriquez said that before their rescue on Oct. 9, the miners realized that "we really had only one alternative, and that was God himself."

He said that some miners taught others how to pray, and said that "as we prayed, we began to know the presence and blessing of God with us down in the mine."

Enriquez said the thought of rescue and of holy intervention "became our daily hope."