Thai officials believe 12 boys missing in cave are alive

[MDMK]

for the highly experienced Brit rescuers it's a 3hr hike to get to the boys.

[RCer]

for the highly experienced Brit rescuers it's a 3hr hike to get to the boys.

Actually, it's very relaxing. You don't feel the weight of the gear. Only taxing part is swimming against a current.

[JWWhite]

Thai boys survived by drinking water from stalactite formations in cave: Doctor
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/as ... 6WUHn9i20c

[RCer]

Thai boys survived by drinking water from stalactite formations in cave: Doctor
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/as ... 6WUHn9i20c

Excellent. Heavy in mineral deposits but otherwise very clean.

[Nereus]

Perilous exit dive only way out for boys

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... t-for-boys

Bringing 12 weakened boys who can't swim let alone dive and their football coach out of flooded Tham Luang cave remains a perilous prospect given the extreme conditions -- strong currents, mud, zero visibility and at least a 2.5-kilometre swim -- cave-diving experts said last night.

As the nation continued to rejoice at the news of all the boys, who are aged 11-16, being found alive at 9.38pm on Monday night after an exhausting 10-day search, spirits were dampened at the prospect of having to keep them in the labyrinthine cave network in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district for up to four more months due to the coming monsoon.

Cave-diving expert Ben Raymenants, who was 400 metres behind the two Britons who located the boys just beyond a chamber dubbed "Pattaya Beach", said the weather would be "the deciding factor" regarding which exit strategy would be deployed.

Navy Seals requested their help in forging ahead and laying cable considering

If the pumping operations are a success and the water levels in the cave recede, then alternatives may be found.

However, with more heavy rain forecast over the coming days, authorities said Navy Seals and cave diving experts would begin teaching the boys how to swim and dive either from today or tomorrow.

Navy Seal Chief Rear Admiral Aphakorn Yoo-kongkaew vowed to bring them all out safely so they could be reunited with their families. He said they would be brought out when they were mentally ready and physically fit for the potentially punishing journey home.

"It may be four months, one month or one week. There's no need to hurry," he said.

"The first plan is to reduce the water level and get them out but if we can't, we will have a backup plan," he added.
"Anyone who is ready first will be brought out. They will be brought out gradually," he added. "Safety is the priority."

The third chamber inside the cave network has now been transformed into a rescue operation command centre stocked with life-saving equipment, diving gear, food and medical supplies, he added.

He said the whole team is now safely in the hands of seven Seal divers, a military doctor and a nurse from the Royal Thai Navy's underwater and hyperbaric medicine unit, who have volunteered to stay with them for as long as it takes, even months.

High-energy food and rejuvenating mineral salts were given to them so they can rebuild their strength after 10 days with almost no food or fresh water.

In the event of rising water levels, at least four days of food supplies have been prepared and 70 oxygen tanks sent in, officials said.

Phone cables were brought into the area so the boys could contact their parents.

More than 1,000 rescuers continued with frantic efforts to pump water from the cave. As of 11am Tuesday, the water level at the cave's entrance was 39 centimetres. About 300 metres deeper inside the cave it had dropped to 20cm.

Deputy Chiang Rai governor Passakorn Boonyalak replaced outgoing governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn in supervising the operation Tuesday.

His Majesty the King has endorsed an order transferring Mr Narongsak to serve as the governor of the smaller province of Phayao, assistant government spokeswoman Col Taksada Sangkachantra said.

However, he will stay in Chiang Rai until the mission is completed, she said.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said the 13 footballers would be brought out of the cave through the passage leading to its main entrance.

They may have to dive some sections, especially through a narrow section where close escort is not possible. If this option is chosen, they would have to use diving gear by themselves and pass through one after another, Gen Anupong said.

"Diving is not easy. Those who have never done it will find it difficult, because there are narrow passages in the cave. They must be able to use diving gear. If the gear is lost at any stage, it could be perilous," he said.
Except for narrow holes, two divers would escort each of the boys. Rescuers have already formulated an evacuation plan, Gen Anupong said.

"As rain is forecast in the next few days, the evacuation must be sped up. Diving gear will be used. If the water rises, the task will be difficult. We must bring the kids out before then," he said.

Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district of Chiang Rai has arranged a ward where all 13 team members could be cared for, with accommodation for 54 of their relatives, Dr Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, public health inspector-general, said.

All of the team are in good condition but they are in need of proper nutrients. They have been in the dark for some time and their eyes need to adjust to normal light. They would therefore need the protection of sunglasses, he said.
The boys must regain their strength first. None of them know how to swim, Dr Thongchai said.

2832762.jpg (57.42 KiB) Viewed 429 times

[Homer]

The Atlantic has 30 photos of the search, with a few of the reaction to finding them.

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/ ... ad/564407/

[JWWhite]

4:06 AM - 4 Jul 2018 BBC Myanmar Correspondent Nick Beake "Apparently they’ve discovered a new cave, next to the one the boys are in. They’re investigating if that can be used to divert water out"

[404cameljockey]

"None of them know how to swim, Dr Thongchai said"

So:
http://thaipeoplemustswimen.weebly.com/why.html

[404cameljockey]

for the highly experienced Brit rescuers it's a 3hr hike to get to the boys.

Actually, it's very relaxing. You don't feel the weight of the gear. Only taxing part is swimming against a current.

As the divers were swimming against the current to reach the boys, maybe the current would assist swimming when exiting? That would be great, if they finally have to swim for it.

[Nereus]

I have been wondering when this would surface:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Coach took boys into Thai cave as 'initiation ritual'

https://au.news.yahoo.com/coach-took-bo ... 10624.html

The coach of a youth soccer team who led them into a flooded cave in Thailand reportedly did it as part of an initiation ritual, according to a rescuer.

The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach went missing when flooding trapped them after entering the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province on June 23. The group were found alive on Tuesday by Thai navy SEAL divers and international rescue workers including cave divers.

One of the rescue divers Ben Reymenants told Sky News he believes the boys were in the cave as part of an initiation.
He added the boys had left their backpacks and shoes, and believes the boys waded in and tried to make it to the end of the tunnel, “sort of like an initiation for local young boys to write your name on the wall and make it back”.

Mr Reymenants said the journey into the cave “was very taxing” for the boys and the search for them was “one of the most extreme cave dives” he’s done.

Police have refused to answer questions on whether the 25-year-old coach should be charged for leading the children into the cave, the Khaosod English paper reports.

Lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadech said it’s likely the coach will escape charges as it appeared he didn’t have intent to put the boys in danger as it hadn’t started raining when he led them inside.

Swim or wait? Options to get the boys out
Rescuers are still trying to determine how to get the boys out of the cave.

Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn said on Tuesday morning that a navy SEAL team will make the final call on the evacuation method. He said one method being considered is for the group to be coached to swim using special breathing masks.

He said other efforts will continue, such as draining water from the cave and exploring the mountainside for shafts and other entrances to the caverns below.

Experts have said the safest option could be to supply the 12 boys and their coach where they are and wait for the water levels to drop.

[JWWhite]

"None of them know how to swim, Dr Thongchai said"

So:
http://thaipeoplemustswimen.weebly.com/why.html

According to the families:
"The Wild Boars are known for going on adventure trips together, like cycling on mountain roads, exploring caves and swimming in waterfalls, according to their families."

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... into-cave/

[HHTel]

My wife was listening to what the boys were saying after being discovered. Quite funny,

One of them asked for their lunch boxes to be brought from their bikes!

Another, younger one, after hearing that the rescuers were from England, said to his mate - "We've walked from Thailand to England!"

[JWWhite]

4:06 AM - 4 Jul 2018 BBC Myanmar Correspondent Nick Beake "Apparently they’ve discovered a new cave, next to the one the boys are in. They’re investigating if that can be used to divert water out"

Found an update on this in Thai, here is the translation:

"we found a tunnel where almost half of the water went in. We already made a weir and prepared 200m tubes to diverge the waterway. It should be done today because so many ppl are helping us including the villagers"

[JWWhite]

"None of them know how to swim, Dr Thongchai said"

So:
http://thaipeoplemustswimen.weebly.com/why.html

According to the families:
"The Wild Boars are known for going on adventure trips together, like cycling on mountain roads, exploring caves and swimming in waterfalls, according to their families."

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... into-cave/

The head coach of the Wild Boars confirms that the kids can swim.

"The wild boar coach also says that the kids are looking good and the kids are swimming because they bring their kids to swim, and they also give the kids a clip and tell the kids, "Do not panic. Will wait outside "

http://www.topicza.com/news75925.html?d ... 18&f=39528

[HHTel]

Just been listening to Thai tv. It seems the kids have said that while they were waiting to be found, they could hear dogs barking and chickens squawking!