After several days in the glaring international spotlight, most of the rescued Chilean miners chose to avoid the cameras on Friday.
As of Friday evening, only a few of the 33 miners are still being treated in hospital -- 28 of them quietly slipped out earlier in the day, while three others were discharged on Thursday.
"I didn't think I'd make it back, so this reception really blows my mind," Edison Pena, the 12th man out of the mine said as he arrived home to neighbours showering him with confetti.
The 34-year-old then lit into the owners of the mine, claiming that profits trumped safety.
"This could have been avoided, and happened because they want to make money," he said. "Even when the mountain was making noises we had to go down."
Overall, however, the miners are staying tight-lipped about their experience surviving a mine collapse, so that they can control the media distribution of their incredible story.
The men who survived the 69-day ordeal at the San Jose mine have been inundated with offers to share their story. But they understand that they have to control the information that is being released if they want to cash in on their experience.
Ximena Alejandra Reygadas, the daughter of one of the trapped miners, says the men intend to split any money they make from giving interviews, making appearances, or providing information for movies or books.
"He also said we can't say things to the media without their permission," Reygadas said. "He said they need to decide what we can tell the media."
The men have even hired an accountant to keep track of the money that is coming their way, said Pablo Ramirez, a 29-year-old foreman at the mine where the collapse occurred.
"More than anything, I think the idea is to charge for the rights to everything that's been shown about their personal life, of their odyssey. That way, they're safe," he said.
But some anecdotes are beginning to leak out of the mine, usually recounted by friends or relatives of the miners.
One report says fist fights broke out among the miners and that the men joked about cannibalism -- but only after they had been found and began receiving food from above ground.
The men known as "Los 33" became trapped in the San Jose mine on Aug. 5 and no one knew they were alive for 17 days.
After authorities learned the men were alive, a lengthy rescue effort ensued, resulting in their successful escape from the mine earlier this week.
Their story of survival drew the attention of media from around the world. Hundreds of reporters were there as the men came out of the mine, one by one.
Now these men, who were typically paid about $1,600 a month to work in the mine, are newfound celebrities with many opportunities in front of them.
They have been offered free trips and the opportunity to attend soccer games in different countries. They've posed for pictures with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and given the thumbs-up to international media.
With files from The Associated Press
