That figure was Gabbar Singh Negi - who was born 260 km away, in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district - and had the unfortunate distinction of having been in tunnel collapses thrice before.
People from various walks of life, from PM Modi and various other political leaders to India Inc leaders such as Gautam Adani and Anand Mahindra, expressed their relief and happiness across platforms.
The "softly, softly" approach to drilling escape holes was key to freeing the 41 men trapped beneath the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, tunnelling expert Arnold Dix told NDTV Wednesday.
PM Modi acknowledged Negi s efforts and thanked him for his temperament during the challenging rescue operations. Negi encouraged his fellow workers and helped them stay calm by practicing Yoga and meditation.