The president of the Medalla de Oro de Asturias (Asturias gold medal), Adrián Barbón, announced last Friday that the miners involved in the operation to rescue Julen Roselló in Totalán in January would be this year's recipients of the prestigious prize.
Speaking last Friday, Barbón said that the eight Asturian miners "deserve the praise of all of Spain".
The Asturias mining rescue brigade made international headlines during the rescue operation, which ended on 26 January when two-year-old Julen's body was found, after a 12-day search.