Leadership

In 2010, the San Jose Copper-Gold mine collapsed in Northern Chile, trapping 33 men 700 meters underground. Among the trapped men was Foreman Luis Ursua, who recognised the danger of the situation and took charge. His organisational skills were demonstrated when he recognised the desperate situation they were in and prepared the men for a long-term survival situation while helping them mentally cope with the crisis. He coordinated closely with the ground rescue team of engineers, and his detailed maps helped the rescue effort. After 70 days, all miners were brought to the surface of the earth through a newly drilled escape tunnel into which a capsule was slowly lowered and raised by a giant crane. Luis was the last man to be rescued, and he remained calm under pressure ( Park, 2021 ).