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Thailand cave rescue: medics reach boys – live updates Medics reach boys trapped in Thai cave – as it happened
(35 minutes later)
A team of rescuers, including a doctor and a nurse, have reached 12 boys and their football coach, who have been trapped in a cave complex in Thailand for 10 days. They were found alive in the Tham Luang cave network by British divers on Monday.A team of rescuers, including a doctor and a nurse, have reached 12 boys and their football coach, who have been trapped in a cave complex in Thailand for 10 days. They were found alive in the Tham Luang cave network by British divers on Monday.
The Thai navy Seals, who are leading the operation, said the trapped boys and their coach, had been given easily-digested food. Initially, they said a rescue would not be attempted until the group were sufficiently strong. But the expectation of monsoon rains this week may make it necessary to launch one soon.The Thai navy Seals, who are leading the operation, said the trapped boys and their coach, had been given easily-digested food. Initially, they said a rescue would not be attempted until the group were sufficiently strong. But the expectation of monsoon rains this week may make it necessary to launch one soon.
Rescuers have appealed for 15 small and extra small full face masks, fuelling speculation that divers are preparing to lead them to safety through 2.5km flooded stretch of the cave. A rescuer told reporters that it was too dangerous to use conventional breathing apparatus as this could easily be knocked out during the dive.Rescuers have appealed for 15 small and extra small full face masks, fuelling speculation that divers are preparing to lead them to safety through 2.5km flooded stretch of the cave. A rescuer told reporters that it was too dangerous to use conventional breathing apparatus as this could easily be knocked out during the dive.
Seal commander Rear Adm Arpakorn Yookongkaew confirmed a dive out to safety was one of several options being considered. If it were employed, he said they “have to be certain that it will work and have to have a drill to make that it’s 100% safe.”Seal commander Rear Adm Arpakorn Yookongkaew confirmed a dive out to safety was one of several options being considered. If it were employed, he said they “have to be certain that it will work and have to have a drill to make that it’s 100% safe.”
Thailand’s interior minister, Anupong Paojinda, suggested the rescue attempt will be made over the next day or so, before a fresh downpour of monsoon rain is expected. He said: “As rain is forecast in the next few days, the evacuation must speed up. Diving gear will be used. If the water rises, the task will be difficult. We must bring the kids out before then.”Thailand’s interior minister, Anupong Paojinda, suggested the rescue attempt will be made over the next day or so, before a fresh downpour of monsoon rain is expected. He said: “As rain is forecast in the next few days, the evacuation must speed up. Diving gear will be used. If the water rises, the task will be difficult. We must bring the kids out before then.”
Footage of the group, shot by the British divers who reached them first, showed the boys and their coach huddled on a ledge surrounded by water. They said they were hungry and asked what day it was and if they could leave.Footage of the group, shot by the British divers who reached them first, showed the boys and their coach huddled on a ledge surrounded by water. They said they were hungry and asked what day it was and if they could leave.
The Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters they were looking at all options, but “I don’t think they will be home soon.” A rescue diver has said the boys were “very weak, but alive”.The Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters they were looking at all options, but “I don’t think they will be home soon.” A rescue diver has said the boys were “very weak, but alive”.
There has been jubilation in Thailand at the news the boys and their coach are alive, especially among relatives who have been keeping vigil outside the entrance since the boys were reported missing. The Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, wished the group a “safe and speedy recover” and thanked the rescuers, including the foreign teams who have flocked from Australia, Japan, the US and Britain to help with the search.There has been jubilation in Thailand at the news the boys and their coach are alive, especially among relatives who have been keeping vigil outside the entrance since the boys were reported missing. The Thai prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, wished the group a “safe and speedy recover” and thanked the rescuers, including the foreign teams who have flocked from Australia, Japan, the US and Britain to help with the search.
The young football team, made up of 12 boys aged between 11 and 16, and their coach went missing on Saturday 23 June, after monsoon rains trapped them inside the Tham Luang cave network. They were found on Monday night after a nine-day round-the-clock search involving international teams of divers.The young football team, made up of 12 boys aged between 11 and 16, and their coach went missing on Saturday 23 June, after monsoon rains trapped them inside the Tham Luang cave network. They were found on Monday night after a nine-day round-the-clock search involving international teams of divers.
The AP has more comments from Omar Reygadas, who has told the agency:The AP has more comments from Omar Reygadas, who has told the agency:
It’s terrible for them they’re little but I believe that boys with a lot of strength are going to manage to be whole when they get out.It’s terrible for them they’re little but I believe that boys with a lot of strength are going to manage to be whole when they get out.
It quotes him as saying the boys should “think only about leaving and reuniting with their families”.It quotes him as saying the boys should “think only about leaving and reuniting with their families”.
Reygadas and the other miners were trapped nearly 2,300 feet below Chile’s Atacama desert before a specially built capsule could be lowered down a drilled shaft and raise them to the surface one by one. Faith and prayer, as well as humour were very important to the miners at times when they doubted they would be rescued, Reygadas said.Reygadas and the other miners were trapped nearly 2,300 feet below Chile’s Atacama desert before a specially built capsule could be lowered down a drilled shaft and raise them to the surface one by one. Faith and prayer, as well as humour were very important to the miners at times when they doubted they would be rescued, Reygadas said.
They shouldn’t be ashamed to be scared. Because we were scared, too. Our tears also ran. Even as adult men, we cried.They shouldn’t be ashamed to be scared. Because we were scared, too. Our tears also ran. Even as adult men, we cried.
A miner who spent 69 days trapped underground in Chile says the 12 boys and their coach should help each other mentally prepare for rescue, the Associated Press reports.A miner who spent 69 days trapped underground in Chile says the 12 boys and their coach should help each other mentally prepare for rescue, the Associated Press reports.
Omar Reygadas and 32 other miners were rescued in 2010. He says the ordeal was hard for grown men, so he can only imagine what the boys aged 11 to 16 are going through. Reygadas says their coach will be a key figure in keeping them motivated. Beyond that, they should focus on being reunited with their families.Omar Reygadas and 32 other miners were rescued in 2010. He says the ordeal was hard for grown men, so he can only imagine what the boys aged 11 to 16 are going through. Reygadas says their coach will be a key figure in keeping them motivated. Beyond that, they should focus on being reunited with their families.
Volanthen also told the Sunday Times in 2013 that cave diving was not the pursuit of those who crave thrills.Volanthen also told the Sunday Times in 2013 that cave diving was not the pursuit of those who crave thrills.
The flight response now isn’t always appropriate. Panic and adrenaline are great in certain situations, but not in cave-diving. The last thing you want is any adrenaline whatsoever.The flight response now isn’t always appropriate. Panic and adrenaline are great in certain situations, but not in cave-diving. The last thing you want is any adrenaline whatsoever.
The Associated Press (AP) has some more information on Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, the two divers who were the first to reach the 12 boys and their coach.The Associated Press (AP) has some more information on Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, the two divers who were the first to reach the 12 boys and their coach.
Stanton has previously described his most memorable lifesaving effort as the 2004 rescue of six soldiers trapped by rising floodwaters in Mexico. He told the Coventry Telegraph in 2012:Stanton has previously described his most memorable lifesaving effort as the 2004 rescue of six soldiers trapped by rising floodwaters in Mexico. He told the Coventry Telegraph in 2012:
They were trapped for nine days, and we had to teach a few of them to dive through a considerable length of passage to get them out. It took about nine hours to get them all out.They were trapped for nine days, and we had to teach a few of them to dive through a considerable length of passage to get them out. It took about nine hours to get them all out.
Stanton also tried to rescue French cave explorer Eric Establie in 2010. Establie’s remains were discovered in southern France after a dramatic eight-day operation. Volanthen was Stanton’s partner on the rescue attempt.Stanton also tried to rescue French cave explorer Eric Establie in 2010. Establie’s remains were discovered in southern France after a dramatic eight-day operation. Volanthen was Stanton’s partner on the rescue attempt.
Alex Daw, a West Midlands Fire Service watch commander, supervised Stanton for six years during his stint as a firefighter. He said that experience serves him well. He told the AP:Alex Daw, a West Midlands Fire Service watch commander, supervised Stanton for six years during his stint as a firefighter. He said that experience serves him well. He told the AP:
If the kids have got someone there like him, they’re safe. He’s cool, calm and collected.If the kids have got someone there like him, they’re safe. He’s cool, calm and collected.
A little more from Jacob Goldberg’s report filed from Mae Sai. US Air Force Captain Jessica Tait, a member of a unit of divers, medics, and survival specialists sent to the rescue site last week at the request of the Thai government, has described the mood in the camp.A little more from Jacob Goldberg’s report filed from Mae Sai. US Air Force Captain Jessica Tait, a member of a unit of divers, medics, and survival specialists sent to the rescue site last week at the request of the Thai government, has described the mood in the camp.
We’ve all been in here as a family, working together, and I never sensed anyone being demotivated. In fact, I sensed a strong hope.We’ve all been in here as a family, working together, and I never sensed anyone being demotivated. In fact, I sensed a strong hope.
When we found out the good news, it felt like it was out of a movie. I get chills when I think about that moment and being able to work hard and have such a positive outcome, because you don’t always get that.When we found out the good news, it felt like it was out of a movie. I get chills when I think about that moment and being able to work hard and have such a positive outcome, because you don’t always get that.
My colleagues, Luke Henriques-Gomes and Emma Graham-Harrison, have assessed some of the options available to rescuers as they attempt to get the boys safely out from the cave. You can read that here:My colleagues, Luke Henriques-Gomes and Emma Graham-Harrison, have assessed some of the options available to rescuers as they attempt to get the boys safely out from the cave. You can read that here:
This graphic shows the route rescuers took to find the missing boys – and the problems they face in returning the children to their families.This graphic shows the route rescuers took to find the missing boys – and the problems they face in returning the children to their families.
Jacob Goldberg has filed a report for the Guardian from the Tham Luang cave at the foot of Nang Non mountain, where he says rescuers never lost hope that the missing children would be found and returned.Jacob Goldberg has filed a report for the Guardian from the Tham Luang cave at the foot of Nang Non mountain, where he says rescuers never lost hope that the missing children would be found and returned.
The sense of hope felt by the rescuers is also shared by the dozens of volunteers who have come from across the country to the northern tip of Chiang Rai province to contribute their skills to the rescue effort.The sense of hope felt by the rescuers is also shared by the dozens of volunteers who have come from across the country to the northern tip of Chiang Rai province to contribute their skills to the rescue effort.
Wisalaya, a woman in her 50s who lives in the surrounding Mae Sai district, is one of the many community members who have set up makeshift kitchens at the site to hand out free meals to anyone who passes by. Throughout the day soldiers, medics, and reporters could be seen standing in two inches of mud, happily slurping noodle soup.Wisalaya, a woman in her 50s who lives in the surrounding Mae Sai district, is one of the many community members who have set up makeshift kitchens at the site to hand out free meals to anyone who passes by. Throughout the day soldiers, medics, and reporters could be seen standing in two inches of mud, happily slurping noodle soup.
Wisalaya said: “I’m here because I love helping, and I love food.”Wisalaya said: “I’m here because I love helping, and I love food.”
Divernet, a scuba-diving website, has more information on Rick Stanton, the Brit who along with John Volanthen was the first to reach the children.Divernet, a scuba-diving website, has more information on Rick Stanton, the Brit who along with John Volanthen was the first to reach the children.
They made several reconnaissance dives before pushing through to locate the boys in a dry chamber, reckoned to be some 2km into the cave and as much as 1000m below the surface – and some 400m from where previous searches had centred.They made several reconnaissance dives before pushing through to locate the boys in a dry chamber, reckoned to be some 2km into the cave and as much as 1000m below the surface – and some 400m from where previous searches had centred.
They laid guidelines while Thai military divers followed, stashing air-cylinders along the route for future use.They laid guidelines while Thai military divers followed, stashing air-cylinders along the route for future use.
Stanton and fellow-diver Jason Mallinson rescued six British cavers from Mexico’s Cueva de Alpazat system.Stanton and fellow-diver Jason Mallinson rescued six British cavers from Mexico’s Cueva de Alpazat system.
“During the Mexico rescue mission in 2004, Stanton is said to have persuaded a caver who was afraid of water to make a 180m dive to safety – but an underwater operation on the scale required in Thailand would be unprecedented,” Divernet reported.“During the Mexico rescue mission in 2004, Stanton is said to have persuaded a caver who was afraid of water to make a 180m dive to safety – but an underwater operation on the scale required in Thailand would be unprecedented,” Divernet reported.
The website also profiled Stanton in 2007.The website also profiled Stanton in 2007.