SANYA -- Eight workers who were trapped when a tunnel collapsed Thursday in south China's Hainan Province were rescued after 64 hours on Sunday afternoon.

A worker who was trapped in the collapsed tunnel is helped walk out after he is rescued in the Yingbin expressway tunnel near Sanya City in south China's Hainan Province, June 7, 2009. Eight workers who were trapped when a tunnel collapsed Thursday in south China's Hainan Province were rescued after 64 hours on Sunday afternoon. [Xinhua]

They walked out of the tunnel with the support of rescuers at around 3:55 pm and were taken to hospital for medical examination.

The workers were trapped in the Yingbin expressway tunnel near Sanya City at about 11:30 pm Thursday. Rescuers had managed to send them food and water via a pipe since midday Saturday.

"I didn't expect that we would all come out alive," said Cui Yongqiu, the first out.

"Six are in good health. Two are suffering diarrhea but they are not in a serious condition," said Tang Jinxian, chief physician at Sanya People's Hospital.

Tang said the eight would stay in the hospital for observation for another two or three days.

Qiu Fuyi, a 43-year-old worker from Anhui Province, told Xinhua he felt very well and he was quite excited to be free.

"The rescue was timely. We all could have died," he said.