Most of the rescued tunnel workers trapped in a collapse hydro plant tunnel in Lam Dong Province have been discharged from hospital, and plan to visit their rescuers before going home to rest.
Doctors released 11 of the 12 rescued workers on December 22, but have urged the one woman, Dang Thi Hong Ngoc, to stay in hospital for a further two days of observation because they are worried about her low blood pressure, despite her wanting to go home to her young son.
12 workers share a last moment with doctors on December 22.
They want to keep a close watch on Hong Ngoc to make sure she doesn't suffer any long-term health problems from the ordeal of being trapped underground in cold wet conditions for four days.
The Health Ministry has instructed Lam Dong General Hospital to send all medical bills for the rescued 12 to the government.
Preparing to go home
One doctor, Ho Truong Bao Long, said that apart from pre-existing conditions, most of the workers emerged from the collapsed tunnel in good health.
But Ms Ngoc was found to be suffering from low blood pressure and trauma, which aroused the concern of medical staff at the hospital.
On December 16, the team was digging a tunnel at Da Dang-Da Chomo Hydroelectric Power Plant when a section of tunnel collapsed behind them, trapping them 500 metres from the entrance. Other workers managed to escape.
Doctors give congratulatory flowers to the trapped workers
Hundreds of rescuers were mobilised, including teams from the Vietnam People's Army, the company, fire fighters and local volunteers.
They worked around the clock for four days to reach the trapped workers, driving through pipes to supply them with air, food and water, and to pump out ground water, which rose at one point to 1.4 metres.
Experts calculated the best approach to dig a rescue tunnel to the trapped workers, factoring in the hard rock around them and the risk of further collapse.