One of the 33 men trapped in a Chilean mine for 69 days has told how they joked about cannibalism

COPIAPO, Chile  — One of the 33 men trapped in a Chilean mine for 69 days has told how they joked about cannibalism — but only after they started to get supplies of food.

The U.K.'s Guardian newspaper also reported that the men divided into three different groups and that "fist fights" broke out during disagreements.

Richard Villaroel told the paper that there was an agreement that they would share what food they had after the mine collapsed.

He said their daily ration during the 17 days before a probe reached them from the surface was half a spoonful of tuna or salmon.

"We were getting eaten up, as we were working," Villaroel told the newspaper. "We were moving, but not eating well. We started to eat ourselves up and get skinnier and skinnier. That is called cannibalism, a sailor down there said. My body was eating itself up."

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Asked if the men had been worried they would have to start eating each other, Villaroel said: "At that moment no one talked about it. But once [help came] it became a topic of joking, but only once it was over, once they found us. But at the time there was no talk of cannibalism."

The Guardian said Daniel Sanderson, a miner who was not among those trapped, said one of "Los 33" told him in a letter that the men "broke into three groups because they were fighting. There were fist fights."

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'Fundamental pillar' The strict rationing system was introduced by shift foreman Luis Urzua, the last miner freed from the chamber more than 2,000 feet below ground, whose leadership has been credited with ultimately keeping the men together. 

"I think he was a fundamental pillar that enabled them to keep discipline," said Manuel Gonzalez, the first rescuer down and who left after Urzua.

"The guys that were down there, I think they never lost their hope," he added. "There were critical moments, but at the end they never lost their hope because they had very positive leaders who kept the group unified."

The brother of miner Dario Sepulveda said the men's supplies were in a worse state than thought as milk they were reported to have had was undrinkable.

"He told me they only had 10 cans of tuna to share, and water, but it isn't true the thing about milk, because it was bad, out of date," Alberto Sepulveda said after visiting his brother.

Other family members said the only water they could drink tasted of oil.

Reports of discontent within the mine come amid intense media interest in the men's incredible story of survival.

Story: First 3 Chilean miners head home from hospital

The first three miners left the hospital late Thursday night and got a taste of their new celebrity. Swarms of reporters, TV producers, publicity agents and even soccer teams are all desperate for a piece of their story.

Chilean TV showed miner Edison Pena, plucked 12th from the cavern where they were trapped for more than two months a half mile underground, getting out of the hospital in Copiapo first.

'This reception really blows my mind' All three miners, still wearing their shades, piled into an SUV bound for home, smiling and waving.

"I didn't think I'd make it back, so this reception really blows my mind," said Pena, 34, as waiting neighbors showered him with confetti when he arrived home.

Triathlete Pena ran six miles a day down in the mine tunnel in the days after the collapse to cope with the stress.