The man tentatively chosen to be first out of the mine is a shy father of two who was caught along with his brother when the collapse happened.
Maria Silva said Chile president Sebastian Pinera told her that her son Florencio Avalos was first on the list to come out.
Mr Avalos (31), had been second in command of the group before the collapse, assisting his friend Luis Urzua.
But friends describe him as shy. After the men were found and cameras sent down, he often acted as cameraman, taking pictures of the other miners - a role that frustrated relatives who saw little of him in the videos.
“I am not surprised” that he was chosen, his mother said after word reached the family. “I am so proud of him.”
Rescuers, relatives and friends broke into jubilant cheers as the father-of-two emerged on the surface to breathe his first fresh air in 69 days after a claustrophobic ascent of around 625 metres through dense rock.
Mr Avalos emerged on the surface shortly after midnight, becoming the first miner liberated from the abyss. Others joined him on the surface over the next hours, as the methodical rescue efforts continued through the night.
Hugged and kissed by relatives, Mr Avalos looked very healthy following a nearly 16-minute journey to safety. He was then embraced by Mr Pinera as the surrounding crowd chanted "Chile! Viva Chile!"
Agencies