Breaking - Missing Thai Boys Found Alive In Caves

[Ellipsis]

> All 12 boys and their football coach found alive after nine days missing in Thailand caves - regional governor

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44688909

Amazing news. Hope they're OK. Who was expecting the worst?

[ducksie]

I'm delighted they've been found but must admit, this is the first I've heard of it, I must have had my head in the sand past few weeks

[DTCwordfan]

yes, but how to extract them with the incoming monsoons due...... Should be able to keep them alive and sort out any injuries though. Mountain Rescue underground, not easy, and I used to enjoy my potholing when I was 16-22ish.....up a mountain side is so much simpler, generally.

[Prudie]

Oh wow have only just seen this, amazing good news

[Peter Pedant]

I thought they were long drownded.

does anyone remember this:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/10492629/Moment-divers-find-man-alive-in-sunken-ship-off-Nigerian-coast.html

the thai caves were flooded with flash flooding during the monsoon.
has anyhone any idea why their teacher took them down in the monsoon season ?

[tonyav]

Great news that they have been found.
Some pics of the rescue op here.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-44681374

[Lie-in King]

Fantastic news, let's hope they're all extracted soon & safely.

[Ellipsis]

Seems like none of us held out much hope. I certainly didn't. A real good news story. Now to get them out safely ...

[Canary42]

It's the Chilean Miners all over again - I do hope the result is the same, poor lads must be terrified (although they sounded OK).

[murraymints]

seems they may have to stay down there for some months before they can be retrieved.. 4 months supply of food taken in... have to wait for the water table to seasonally drop as it is too dangerous to make any attempt given tides etc

[Togo]

It seems that the leaders of the rescue team are the British guys who flew out at the end of last week.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/thailand-cave-rescue-meet-the-heroic-volunteer-british-divers-who-are-the-best-in-the-world/ar-AAzv9wn

[murraymints]

we have so many unsung heroes... my ex once was flown to help with the aftermath of earthquakes in Mexico, he was a chemical engineer and it was something to do with neutralising noxious gases to enable rescue diggers ...

[10ClarionSt]

First I've heard of it.

[Peter Pedant]

they are in 3 km and about 1.5 km is flooded
oo-er mrs !

piddling and crapping in a pool for four months in the dark
I am not sure if the 'rescuers' have worked this one out.

apparently the mud has blocked some of the access so they had to dig it out .... and sub-aqua against the flow!

[ladybirder]

The monsoon season does not finish until October/
November time so things could get even worse. Sky News this morning said the boys will have to be taught to dive and to manoeuvre through narrow passages. They will be divided into three groups depending on their health and strength. They've been given 4 months' worth of food. I suppose they have to give them as much as they can while they can. This is a long way from over.

[Ellipsis]

Yes, it's looking very difficult.

You would think they could be dragged one at a time, perhaps in several sections, with a very long rope, in breathing apparatus, accompanied by an experienced dive team.

[ladybirder]

Yes I was thinking something along those lines Ellipsis, perhaps each one accompanied by a diver. Be interesting to hear the plan. In the meantime they are pumping the water out but not managing to keep up with it so that's very worrying. They have all the experts there putting their brains together so I'm feeling fairly positive at the moment.

[murraymints]

it is very like the Chilean miners again... let's hope for the best

[ladybirder]

Apparently, Thai police are now considering if charges can be brought against the football coach who led the children into the current situation.
Personally I think this is not important at the moment. Get them out first, anything else can wait.

[Ellipsis]

Agreed!

[sanmac]

As has been said, it's great that they've been found alive. But the actual rescue is probably going to be extremely difficult. Parts of this video will give some idea of what cave-diving is like. The water here is very clear, but I would think that where the boys are it's going to be very silty and visibility very limited. In order to prevent panicking I wonder if they could each be mildly sedated before being taken out...Just a thought.