RESCUED Chilean miner José Henríquez spoke of how his faith kept him going through his horrendous ordeal trapped under the earth, during a visit to Solihull.

And Mr Henriquez revealed his his sorrow at news at least five workers have died and many others missing following an explosion in an underground coal mine in northeast Colombia yesterday.

The 55-year-old was in Solihull as part of a UK tour in which he is sharing his experience of being among the 33 men trapped 700 metres underground for 69 days in the San José mine in Copiapó last year. Around 1,500 members of the public attended his talk at the Renewal Christian Centre last night.

Of the explosion in La Preciosa mine in Sardinata yesterday, thought to have been caused by methane, the father of two said: “It’s very lamentable. We express our solidarity to the families. My message would be do not stop looking to God or stop praying.”

He said he believed there should be more help for miners, adding: “We must make sure that there’s good legislation and more security inspectors sent to the mines.” José had worked in the mines for 33 years and was the 24th miner to be rescued.

He said: “I have survived three previous explosions in my life. I’ve been saved from landslides when half of my shift were killed, when mudslides swept away the machinery. It’s not in my hands to judge why I survived, but you get a sense that God has liberated me. I relate everything to him in gratefulness.”