A CHILEAN miner who was trapped for two months underground was welcomed to Liverpool town hall yesterday as a “working class hero”.

Carlos Bugueno Alrama, 27, one of the 33 miners whose amazing survival against the odds last year captivated the world, met Liverpool Lord Mayor Frank Prendergast and trade unionists yesterday as part of a two-day tour of the city.

“It really is amazing to have a working class hero with us today, after all he went through, the sort of anxieties he must have been under,” said Cllr Prendergast. “The purpose of the trip is about showing the dangers of heavy industry across the world.

“The number of deaths due to industrial accidents is increasing.

“Carlos’s trip should remind us how dangerous these jobs can really be.”

Alec McFadden, of the Trades Union Council (TUC) which arranged the visit, said he was disgusted to learn that Carlos had not been paid for the 69 days he was trapped in the mine because he had not been working.

Carlos, who stayed with Julio Arellano, the owner of Valparaiso – a Chilean restaurant on Hardman Street – thanked the city for its hospitality: “Thank you to everyone, Liverpool is a beautiful city.”

He said the miners’ incredible ordeal had changed his life.

Mr Arellano said they had stayed up to watch Chile beat Peru in the Copa America 1-0 to reach the quarter finals of the competition.

“He is a very quiet man. He was telling me when the cameras went down the mine he did not want to show his face, but he had to make sure his family saw him so they knew he was OK.

“He is very humble and we really enjoyed having him to stay.”