The doctor who assessed the men’s health needs from the surface, Jean Romagnoli, explained: “A guy offered them inflatable dolls but he only had 10. I said ‘33 or none’. Otherwise they would be fighting over them.”

Franklin added: “The men’s greatest need would not fit down the tube: women. With physical health improving rapidly, sex became a topic of conversation for the miners and the rescue team.” Instead of blow-up dolls, they received pornography and posters.