Of the 115 who were rescued after eight days, only 12 remain in a serious condition, according to Chinese authorities.

Various news reports suggest some of these miners had resorted to eating saw dust, coal lumps and tree bark, while others suggest miners drank the murky water or their own urine to stay alive.

Some miners reportedly used their belts to hang from the shaft walls so they did not fall into the water while sleeping.

There were 261 people underground at the mine, which was under construction, on March 28 when workers digging a tunnel broke into an abandoned shaft filled with water, flooding the colliery.

Right after the accident 108 workers were lifted to the surface.

Rescuers steadily removed water each day using at least six pumps and holes were drilled from the surface to provide more air underground.