Missing Boys in Caves.

[choi choi]

As someone who is claustrophobic I dred to think what those young lads have been through. Hats off to all of them. Personally, I would have lost it being stuck in a pitch black environment for all that time.
Hoping for a quick extraction.

Me Same! I would have perished through panic and heart pounding.
Especially thinking no rescue coming. Horrible experience!

[papafarang]

imagine a week of darkness, just listening to other voices , freaky . these boys might need some extra help with issues. but at least their safe now

[Brian Davis]

Ok, so we've only seen a short video, but those found seem amazingly well and alert, although further checks may prove otherwise. Knowing how my Thai wife threatens passing out when not eating for a couple of hours , oh boy, I bet they're hungry. Whilst, unless the English guy was a particularly strong diver or leader, I guess it was chance he was first there. He kept his emotions 'bottled' very well, but one sensed his delight that ALL boys and coach were found. But even the moment didn't prevent, if my hearing is correct, "my lights are s**t'.

[tamada]

Ok, so we've only seen a short video, but those found seem amazingly well and alert, although further checks may prove otherwise. Knowing how my Thai wife threatens passing out when not eating for a couple of hours , oh boy, I bet they're hungry. Whilst, unless the English guy was a particularly strong diver or leader, I guess it was chance he was first there. He kept his emotions 'bottled' very well, but one sensed his delight that ALL boys and coach were found. But even the moment didn't prevent, if my hearing is correct, "my lights are s**t'.

"British divers find 12 children and their football coach trapped for nine days in Thai cave"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/0 ... sing-thai/

It appears this mission was organised in such a way that the experienced, volunteer BRITISH rescue divers did all the trailblazing while the Thai Navy SEAL team were tasked with the support logistics of maintaining the lengthening supply chain or air tanks, ropes and air lines.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/0 ... vers-best/

[mak]

Well done.

[vincemunday]

It's being reported that the boys might be down there for months if they don't learn to dive, supplies are being shipped in just in case. Fingers crossed.

[mak]

http://cavingnews.com/20130103-buckingh ... tanton-mbe

[mak]

This photo says it all.

[tamada]

It's being reported that the boys might be down there for months if they don't learn to dive, supplies are being shipped in just in case. Fingers crossed.

The immediate threat is the bad weather and more rain which is forecast for mid-week. The lads were already forced off 'Pattaya beach' due to the rising waters so getting them to a higher, drier location may be the imperative even if it means going deeper into the cave.

I would reckon that if sufficient air, food and potable water can be provided, they may prefer to wait for the infinitely less hazardous extraction via some drilled and/or excavated shaft from above similar to how they extracted the Chilean miners in 2010? Despite the terrain here being mostly inhospitable and virtually inaccessible for heavy gear, the oil exploration industry has managed to locate drill sites in some of the most constrained, remote and inhospitable jungles of the world so if there's a will, there is a way. The foreign expertise needed is all just a phone call or email away.

[Zidane]

It's being reported that the boys might be down there for months if they don't learn to dive, supplies are being shipped in just in case. Fingers crossed.

Yes,its great news finding them all alive and well but just how are you going to get them out ? If its very difficult for experienced divers you cant expect young kids,with no experience,to go back the same way as the divers.
Now they know where they are maybe its possible to make an entrance nearby from above and get them out that way ?

[AlexO]

imagine a week of darkness, just listening to other voices , freaky . these boys might need some extra help with issues. but at least their safe now

Papa
They have been 'found', they are not safe until they are brought out alive. This was only Phase 1 of the rescue mission.

Phase 2 Is stabalise their condition, provide clean drinking water and some form of safe nutrition to rebuild some energy. A doctor/doctors are needed with the youngsters but not sure how many cave diving doctors are available.

Phase 3 Devise a workable, safe plan to extract the kids and the rescuers from the cave. This will mean the Thai's will need to listen to Falangs (something Thai's are not renowned for)who know what they are doing. Need a backup plan in case anything goes wrong with Plan A, Plan B is implemented quickly.

Phase 4 Make sure all necessary preparations are exactly as required, no short cuts, no
'it will be OK'. Again against all of SEA's normal attitude to things in general.

Phase 5 Pray to all and every God and start the extraction as planned.
It would be an absolute tragedy if someone was lost due to some Thai official thinking he knows best and hurrying the extraction process so he can look good on TV and the papers. It's going to take time.

[tamada]

imagine a week of darkness, just listening to other voices , freaky . these boys might need some extra help with issues. but at least their safe now

Papa
They have been 'found', they are not safe until they are brought out alive. This was only Phase 1 of the rescue mission.

Phase 2 Is stabalise their condition, provide clean drinking water and some form of safe nutrition to rebuild some energy. A doctor/doctors are needed with the youngsters but not sure how many cave diving doctors are available.

Phase 3 Devise a workable, safe plan to extract the kids and the rescuers from the cave. This will mean the Thai's will need to listen to Falangs (something Thai's are not renowned for)who know what they are doing. Need a backup plan in case anything goes wrong with Plan A, Plan B is implemented quickly.

Phase 4 Make sure all necessary preparations are exactly as required, no short cuts, no
'it will be OK'. Again against all of SEA's normal attitude to things in general.

Phase 5 Pray to all and every God and start the extraction as planned.
It would be an absolute tragedy if someone was lost due to some Thai official thinking he knows best and hurrying the extraction process so he can look good on TV and the papers. It's going to take time.

Couldn't possibly squeeze in another wee denigration of the locals and how sublimely superior the farangs are could you?

[Giggle]

Falangs

faRang - raw ruea ร, not faLang - law ling ล

[AlexO]

It's being reported that the boys might be down there for months if they don't learn to dive, supplies are being shipped in just in case. Fingers crossed.

Vince
Dont think they can ever be taught to dive to the required safe level down there. As quoted in the article in the BBC 'it's the option of absolute last resort'. Very dangerous for rescued and rescuers. Staying down there until end of rainy season, again do we know if the shelf they are on ever floods, if they have to move it seems diving through the surrounding water is the only option. Can sufficient hygiene facilities be developed for a long term stay of them and the accompanying rescuers.
On the positive side these youngsters are level headed and physically strong enough to have survived the ordeal up to now. The whole cave is not flooded so it might just be possible to set up some sort of mechanised pulley system that just pulls them through the flooded parts if they can just breath comfortably and obstacles are cleared. Still a long way to go.

[AlexO]

imagine a week of darkness, just listening to other voices , freaky . these boys might need some extra help with issues. but at least their safe now

Papa
They have been 'found', they are not safe until they are brought out alive. This was only Phase 1 of the rescue mission.

Phase 2 Is stabalise their condition, provide clean drinking water and some form of safe nutrition to rebuild some energy. A doctor/doctors are needed with the youngsters but not sure how many cave diving doctors are available.

Phase 3 Devise a workable, safe plan to extract the kids and the rescuers from the cave. This will mean the Thai's will need to listen to Falangs (something Thai's are not renowned for)who know what they are doing. Need a backup plan in case anything goes wrong with Plan A, Plan B is implemented quickly.

Phase 4 Make sure all necessary preparations are exactly as required, no short cuts, no
'it will be OK'. Again against all of SEA's normal attitude to things in general.

Phase 5 Pray to all and every God and start the extraction as planned.
It would be an absolute tragedy if someone was lost due to some Thai official thinking he knows best and hurrying the extraction process so he can look good on TV and the papers. It's going to take time.

Couldn't possibly squeeze in another wee denigration of the locals and how sublimely superior the farangs are could you?

Tamada
No denigration of the locals intended at all, just a statement of fact about the 'we know best' attitude that prevails in Thailand and most of SEA. Where in my post did I say "how sublimely superior the farangs are" all I said was listen to guys who know what their doing, could have been referring to Thai Navy Seals. Just do not let some Government (local or national) Official start taking over.

[vlad]

Well done on a job well done by all, The first person who broke water and greeted the Boys was English and and was a Specialist in this field thai navy seals did a good job but there not cave divers. Problem now is Extraction do they wait out till the wet season is over or train the boys on Scuba. Lets not forget the great efforts by all the specialists who flew in to save them and the thai government officials thank them.

[vincemunday]

I saw they were practicing with cage like stretchers, perhaps they're going to strap them in with oxygen and haul them through? I'm hopeful that the "experts" will find a quick way of getting them out, poor little sods must be petrified.

[AlexO]

I saw they were practicing with cage like stretchers, perhaps they're going to strap them in with oxygen and haul them through? I'm hopeful that the "experts" will find a quick way of getting them out, poor little sods must be petrified.

Vince
I was seriously impressed with the behavior of the youngsters when the two divers found them. No hysterics and they seem to have been able to handle the absolute darkness without any signs of claustrophobia. OK there was a few comments about eating but I get that about 6 times a day from my missus. No, all in all, they were pretty composed and respectful.
If they can get the kids to be confident just breathing through a regulator while lying on a strecher and get these stretchers through the underwater sections really quickly then it might just work.
Downside is the visibility is nil so if anything is going wrong no one will know until they are through the flooded section.

[choi choi]

I saw they were practicing with cage like stretchers, perhaps they're going to strap them in with oxygen and haul them through? I'm hopeful that the "experts" will find a quick way of getting them out, poor little sods must be petrified.

That could be a problem. As the passage ways narrow down in places, and bodies need to be contorted around bends.
In Any case, will be long time in they're if not out in time of more flooding.
Oh Boy, will they have a tale to say when they finally rescued!
A movie to be made for sure!
But the whole rescue operation will have cost millions .
But there is no price on folks lives

[dunroaming]

This photo says it all.

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This photo is 3 years old !!