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Chiang Rai Cave Disaster


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The teenage members of a Thai football team as well as their coach have been trapped in Tham Luang cave for over a week due to flooding of certain passageways.  A massive rescue operation has been mounted.

Authorities speculate that the lads are in a part of the cave called Pattaya Beach, a rather strange name for part of a cave.

If they made it to "Pattaya Beach" the biggest issue is probably clean drinking water.   Despite the flood passageways, that part of the cave is probably dry enough so it is not too cold or maybe not.

Let's hope the lads make it out OK.

 

 

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The boys have been found, all alive with medical teams now on way to assess their conditions and once that is done the rescuers will try to formulate a plan to get them out. As the entrance to the cave is flooded and rescuers needed to use scuba gear to get into the caves they may have to teach the boys how to scuba dive. They were found about 400 metres past 'Pattaya Beach' which had been flooded as well.

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3 hours ago, duke007 said:

Yep, I  heard they had been found by a couple of British divers, also read the kids could be stuck there for months, at least they are all alive and well, sorted B)

:drinks::drinks::drinks:

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Two heroic divers believed to be from the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team have taken centre stage in efforts to rescue a group of boys trapped underground in a cave system in Thailand.

Regarded as being among Britain's foremost cave divers, John Volanthen and Richard Stanton flew to Thailand over the weekend on a voluntary basis to assist with the search for the 12 boys and their coach who became trapped in the cave system in Northern Thailand ten days sago.

The pair were the first to discover the group alive and well on a ledge.

"Two British, volunteer cave divers found the boys at their current location, but the last 36 hours have seen a coordinated and planned approach to the rescue being led by the Thai Military and involving many other nations (including the USA, Chinese, Australians and others).

"Equipment and air supplies have been ferried in to the system over the last day or so, enabling the divers to progress further in to the system than was previously possible. Diving lines have been laid to the boys’ location for other divers to follow with essential food, comforts and medical supplies.

Although the group have now been reached by rescuers 2km into a complex network of caves, efforts to bring them to safety are still on going, with "significant challenges" ahead.


"Although water levels have dropped, the diving conditions remain difficult and any attempt to dive the boys and their coach out will not be taken lightly because there are significant technical challenges and risks to consider," added the statement.

Volanthen, who is an internet engineer from the Bristol area who runs marathons in his spare time, and his colleague Stanton, a firefighter from Coventry, are among the world's best cave divers and have led rescues in France and Norway in the past.

In 2010, the pair received medals from the Royal Humane Society for their eight-day effort to save French diver Eric Establie. It is reported that they were requested by name by the French Government.


 

 

 

 

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It is so cool when people from all around the world can drop everything and help out , it realy shows that some of us do care , with all the conflict going on around the world . 

    My hat is off to the volunteers .....well do guys :hi:

  Much respect to you

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Its not as straightforward as I thought about getting them out.  I thought they could just guide them out with Scuba gear but I guess it isnt that simple.  They are safe and sound and reasonably healthy.  Time is on their side. I really wonder who is in charge and who is calling the shots here......

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The 13 footballers stranded in a cave have all sent their first letters home.

The Thai NavySEAL Facebook page published photos of seven hand-written letters. The Facebook page said the assistant coach, Ekkapol Chanthawong, and the boys gave the letters to a team of foreign divers at night on Friday. The first page of the paper was on the subject of communication, apparently written by the coach.

The first page says: “What we want to communicate: The kids say don’t be worried about them. All of them are strong. They would like to eat many different kinds of foods when they come out. Teachers, please don’t give them too much homework. The SEALs and doctor Phak, who are taking care of the children, are also well.” The rest of the letters say:

Chanin Wibulrungruang (Tun): Dad and mum, don’t worry. I am fine. Please tell Brother Yod to get prepared to take me to a fried chicken shop. Love you all!

Ekkapol Chanthawong (Coach Ake): To parents of all the children: The children are doing well. There are staff who take good care of them. I promise to take care of them as best as I can. I would like to thank you for all the moral support. And I would like to apologise to all the parents. To my aunt and grandmother: I am doing well. Don’t worry too much about me. Please take good care of yourselves. Aunt, please tell grandma to please prepare the vegetable juice and fried pork skin for me. I’ll eat them when I come out. I love you all.

Sompong Jaiwong (Pong): I you dad and mum. Don’t worry. We are all safe now. Love you all.

Pipat Photi (Nik): I love you, dad and mum. I love my siblings as well. When I come out, please take me to a pork pan (shabu) shop. Love you all.

Mongkol Boonpiam (Mark): Mum, are you doing well at home? I am doing well. Please tell my teacher I love her. Love you, mum.

Phanumart Saengdee (Mik): Don’t worry about me. I miss you all, grandpa, aunt, mother, dad and siblings. I am happy inside here. The SEALs take good care of me. Love you all.

Ekkarat Wongsukchan (Bew): Don’t worry about me, dad and mum. I’ll be away for just two weeks. I’ll later help you, mum, sell goods when I have time. I’ll rush out of here.

Pornchai Khamluang (Tee): Don’t worry about me. I hope you all, dad, mum, and siblings, are happy.

Duangphet Promthep (Tom): I am doing well. But the air is cold. Don’t worry. But don’t forget my birthday party.

Adul Sam-on (Adul): Don’t worry about us now. I miss you all. I would like to go home as soon as possible.

Pirapat Sompiangchai (Knight): I love you, dad and mum. Don’t worry about me. I love you all.

Natthawut Thakhamsai (Toel): I miss you dad and mum. I love you all. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.

Prachak Sutham (Note): I am safe and doing well. Don’t worry. I love you dad and mum.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349537

 

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Rescue has begun, this from Sydney Morning Herald a short while ago:

The Thai Governor has confirmed the rescue mission has started today at 10am (1pm AEST). The children and their coach will be taken out one by one, but operation could stop at any time depending on conditions.

“If we don’t start now, we might lose the chance,” he said.

An Australian doctor checked the medical health of the boys last night and gave them the all clear.

Outgoing Chiang Rai province Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said that water levels in the cave had reached their lowest levels yesterday but that storms were expected in the next couple of days.

"The boys confirm they are ready [for the rescue]" and that also the families have acknowledged and agreed with the mission starting.

"Now 13 of them, their health and their minds are ready and they all have knowledge of the mission. They’re ready to go out."

The Governor said that much of the path was now walkable into the cave - it has been walkable to chamber 3, about 1.5km in, for several days.

The next update on the rescue effort is expected at 9pm local time on Sunday night, which is midnight Australian eastern time.

Governor Osottanakorn said the diving rescue team consisted of 13 international divers and five Thai Navy Seals. "We can say they are all international all-stars involved in this diving operation and we selected five of our best who can work with them,” Governor Osottanakorn said. Deputy Commander of 3rd Army Chalongchai Chaiyakum said the plan "has to be clear, easy and perfect. By now they choose the best solution to use." "The mission might end within a couple of days," Doctor Thossathep Boonthong said.  "We are 100 per cent ready.'' The huge international media contingent were asked to leave, the Governor said, to make room for medical and evacuation teams.There will be two divers per child during the rescue operation, and the 12 kids and the coach will come out one-by-one.The operation could be halted at any time because of weather and other factors and it could take a couple of days to complete. 
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Today is D-Day.  They are attempting to bring out the first boy(s) today.   

This is a high risk operation but deemed necessary.  Saman Guman, an ex Navy Seal rescue diver has already died.  RIP to a true hero. 

Authorities have removed all non-essential personel from the cave entrance.  I reckon part of the reason for this is to control the media narrative which is probably a good idea, especially if things go wrong.

The announcement is light on details and I reckon the public doesn't really need to know at this time. 

My guess is they will try to bring one boy out first and see how it goes and then reevaluate the situation.   

The round trip is about 12 hours for world class cave divers without towing along a boy. 

Heavy rain is expected later in the week so this is viewed as the best window of opportunity for extraction. Waiting until dry season in December is not desirable due to a number of issues including oxygen supply.

The whole world is watching.  The best of luck to the boys and the rescuers.

cave55.jpg

 

  

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CHIANG RAI — Four boys have now been rescued from the flooded Luang cave Sunday evening, but one was said to be in critical condition.

In a triumph for an uncertain mission fraught with danger, initial reports said the first two children walked out on their own feet at 5:40pm and 5:50pm after 16 days trapped in the dark and flooded cave complex.

A third and fourth boy were brought put not long after, but one was said to be in critical condition. The first boy to walk out was later identified as Mongkol Boonpiam, 13.

A helicopter was seen departing the site at 7:09pm. There were unconfirmed reports a fifth boy has also exited the cave.

No official announcement has been made.

They were brought out by professional divers, but no details of the circumstances are yet available.

Helicopters and 13 ambulances were standing by for the team to be taken to the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital.

The plan as rehearsed has been to transport them by ambulance to a hospital in Chiang Rai City 60 kilometers away. Any found in critical condition would be flown by helicopter to the same hospital.

Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former Chiang Rai governor and rescue operation chief, announced in the morning that the boys would be brought out in pairs, with two divers accompanying each one of them. He insisted that all were 100 percent ready, both physically and mentally.

The families had also given green light to the extraction plan, he said.

Going out the way they came in was a dangerous option of last resort. But fear they would drown or suffocate were they to remain any longer forced the hard choice.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/07/08/rescued-first-boys-rescued-from-cave/

Note, "critical" might not be as severe as what we usually think of as "critical condition".

The 3 boys who walked out were taken by ambulance to the hospital.  The plan was for every boy to be taken to the hospital, same as astronauts after a flight are taken to the hospital for tests.  The boy being taken by helicopter might just be erring on the side of caution for someone who needs medical attention.

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IF YOU’D been stuck in an underground cave system for more than two weeks, with only emergency rations to dine on, what meal would you crave upon your exit? A juicy steak with chunky chips maybe? A crispy Parma? Or perhaps a huge Pad Thai?

On Monday, it was revealed what the first four rescued boys had dined on when they emerged — and it was none of the above.

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, former Governor of Chaing Rai province and the head of the joint command centre co-ordinating the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, gave an insight into the ravenous boys’ appetite.

“Four boys are okay at the hospital and this morning they already asked for rice with basil,” Mr Narongsak was reported as saying.

Journalists at the scene have expanded on their first dish saying it was pad kra pao — a popular dish of spicy basil and usually chicken or pork.

 

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