Thailand Cave Rescue

[PoopandBoogers]

Boys soccer team trapped 1 mile deep inside flooded cave. Initially they were given 4 mos of food and were going to wait for the water to recede, but sounds like they might try and take them out 1 by 1 now with divers. What in the hell were they doing there in the 1st place?

 

[PoopandBoogers]

The initial relief that greeted the dramatic discovery of the trapped Thai soccer team has given way to questions over why the boys are still inside the flooded cave network and not on their way to the surface and their waiting families.

Part of the concern about attempting to bring the boys out of the cramped, pitch-black chamber where they have spent the better part of nine days is that they are around two kilometers (1.2 miles) inside the cave, and nearly a kilometer below the surface, according to rescuers.

The boys, who were found alive by British divers in the early hours of Monday morning, are now being tended to by seven Thai Navy Seals, including a doctor and nurse, Thai Navy Seal Chief Rear Adm. Aphakorn Yoo-kongkaew told reporters at a news conference late Tuesday.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/07/03/asia/thai-rescue-next-phase-intl/index.html

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Apparently some or all of the kids can't swim, which makes extracting them a bit tougher.
Saw this morning that it might be a few weeks or even months until they can get them out as they'll need to get back into good health and then taught to swim.

Would love to see a diagram of this cave. And yes, how the heck did they wind up in there?!

 

[LesClaypool]

Such a crazy story. I read they not only need to be taught to swim but also to SCUBA dive, if they are to make it out. Just crazy.

 

[NoleFan2U]

Apparently some or all of the kids can't swim, which makes extracting them a bit tougher.
Saw this morning that it might be a few weeks or even months until they can get them out as they'll need to get back into good health and then taught to swim.

Would love to see a diagram of this cave. And yes, how the heck did they wind up in there?!

Ask and you shall receive

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/03/asia/thai-rescue-next-phase-intl/index.html

 

[Nole Daddy]

Crazy story. I hope they all make it out

 

[FSU_Nole_Girl]

This is such a sad, crazy story. That coach should not have taken those kids in there. I couldn't imagine being 13-14 and stuck in a cave for 9+ days. I hope they find a way to get the kids out alive. Take the coach last.

 

[NoleFan2U]

Just realized I shared the same link as the OP.

The map is in that story.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

This is such a sad, crazy story. That coach should not have taken those kids in there. I couldn't imagine being 13-14 and stuck in a cave for 9+ days. I hope they find a way to get the kids out alive. Take the coach last.

I'm not sure you can put so much blame on the coach without knowing the full story. And I'm pretty sure the plan wasn't to take the coach out first, I doubt he'd want it that way either. He's kept a group of 11-16 year old boys alive for 9 days without proper food or water - he may wind up being a hero in this tale.. I guess except to overprotective parents who expect their child to never take any chances or face any risks in their lives.

These things happen out with mother nature. It sucks but school groups explore caves all over the world, if the tide rapidly rises, you're in a pickle.

 

[FSU_Nole_Girl]

I'm not sure you can put so much blame on the coach without knowing the full story. And I'm pretty sure the plan wasn't to take the coach out first, I doubt he'd want it that way either. He's kept a group of 11-16 year old boys alive for 9 days without proper food or water - he may wind up being a hero in this tale.. I guess except to overprotective parents who expect their child to never take any chances or face any risks in their lives.

These things happen out with mother nature. It sucks but school groups explore caves all over the world, if the tide rapidly rises, you're in a pickle.

I didn't say the plan was to take him out first. When this story first broke, I'm pretty sure I read that the cave was closed due to flooding during the rainy season. And look what happened....it flooded. With more rain coming. Props to the coach for keeping the kids he put in danger alive.

I'm all for adventure, but I'm also not going to ignore signs telling me not to go further because of flooding.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

They said that there are long extended segments underwater; in opaque, pitch black muddy conditions, with tight confined spaces, swift currents, and no sense of direction. Plus many of the kids can't swim and haven't eaten or seen light in 10 days.

 

[FSU_Nole_Girl]

They said that there are long extended segments underwater; in opaque, pitch black muddy conditions, with tight confined spaces, swift currents, and no sense of direction. Plus many of the kids can't swim and haven't eaten or seen light in 10 days.

Terrifying. That freaks me out just reading it.

 

[csklad]

I didn't say the plan was to take him out first. When this story first broke, I'm pretty sure I read that the cave was closed due to flooding during the rainy season. And look what happened....it flooded. With more rain coming. Props to the coach for keeping the kids he put in danger alive.

I'm all for adventure, but I'm also not going to ignore signs telling me not to go further because of flooding.

The coach should have said Phuket before taking the kids in the cave.

 

[kc78]

Terrifying. That freaks me out just reading it.

Yeah, from what I've read trying to dive out of there would be terrifying for anyone, much less 13 year old boys. It's far too easy for someone to get separated or hurt worse getting out.

The safest solution may be to just keep bringing supplies into them until the rains recede, but that might be months. It's just a bad, bad situation all around.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Terrifying. That freaks me out just reading it.

One option had them strapping the kids to boards with oxygen masks on and pulling them out by rope.

 

[FSU_Nole_Girl]

One option had them strapping the kids to boards with oxygen masks on and pulling them out by rope.

I am claustrophobic so this is my worst nightmare. I went cave exploring (guided tour) when I was in middle school somewhere in TN. To get out, you had to go through what they called the birth canal. One person at a time on your stomach. I had never been so happy to see sunlight. Never again. Probably why I am claustrophobic.

 

[ggmike1992]

I had to be sedated for an MRI. No way I'd survive this ordeal.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I'm not sure you can put so much blame on the coach without knowing the full story. And I'm pretty sure the plan wasn't to take the coach out first, I doubt he'd want it that way either. He's kept a group of 11-16 year old boys alive for 9 days without proper food or water - he may wind up being a hero in this tale.. I guess except to overprotective parents who expect their child to never take any chances or face any risks in their lives.

I’m all for letting my kids push some boundaries but it’s more in line with letting them ride their bikes to 7-11. Not exploring caves with their soccer coach.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Read somewhere that it could take 12 hrs to swim them out one at a time. Hopefully it wont take that long, but none of them can swim and they are trying to teach them scuba in the dark, while the kids havent really eaten or slept good in 10 days. They say the dive is very technical for even master cave divers and confined space rescue techs.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Read that there maybe, though a long shot, a chance to drill from the top. Though the diagram above casts some doubt on that.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

Read that there maybe, though a long shot, a chance to drill from the top. Though the diagram above casts some doubt on that.

Yeah thats a full km in a straight line from above. Read that there are fissures they might be able access and drill from, but Id imagine its going to be a zigzag maze to come from above.

Also read they are pumping thousands of gallons of water out per hour, but have only lowered the water 1 cm, and are now flooding nearby villages with the water they are pumping out.

More rainfall is expected and monsoon season is approaching.

 

[runkpanole]

This just assured me that I will not be entering any caves on my upcoming trip.

 

[NolesOnTop]

This just assured me that I will not be entering any caves on my upcoming trip.

Ditto. That is scary just to think about. That map suggests it would be a rough swim out even for an experienced cave diver. I cannot imagine the panic that would go through someone who has never done that before.

 

[JohnnieHolmesNole]

Yeah, from what I've read trying to dive out of there would be terrifying for anyone, much less 13 year old boys. It's far too easy for someone to get separated or hurt worse getting out.

The safest solution may be to just keep bringing supplies into them until the rains recede, but that might be months. It's just a bad, bad situation all around.

Probably pretty sanitary and sweet-smelling too.....hoping for the best for these kids.

 

[totallynot321Nole]

Yeah thats a full km in a straight line from above. Read that there are fissures they might be able access and drill from, but Id imagine its going to be a zigzag maze to come from above.

Also read they are pumping thousands of gallons of water out per hour, but have only lowered the water 1 cm, and are now flooding nearby villages with the water they are pumping out.

More rainfall is expected and monsoon season is approaching.

Dang. Was just thinking they should pump the water for a week or two, but looks like that's not working.

 

[F4Gary]

Here's another depiction. Maybe they can drill down after the first body of water near them.

 

[ohio#1nolefan]

I call dibs on the movie rights...

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I think if they get out safely the coach will get a hug, then a beatdown.

 

[trefeet]

Yeah don’t get why they went in to begin with. Then if the water started out just a little shouldn’t they have forged through? Unless it filled up completely without them knowing.

 

[ericram]

What have they been eating? I guess they had enough water. Just surprised they are all alive.

 

[ericram]

Here's another depiction. Maybe they can drill down after the first body of water near them.

They need to get to guys from Armageddon on this stat.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

That last pic shows 4 miles inside the cave system, most of it underwater. They better hope the water recedes or they find a way from the top, or that those brave divers can teach and calm those kids to swim out.

I didnt want to say this earlier and rain on the parade of them being found, but this could turn out worse than them never being found and way more tragic then we could think, with us watching them go crazy or slowly die over several months without a way to do anything but sit there and wait.

On the bright side, these tough little sob's have already survived 10 days in a cave with no food or light, so they have proved to have some mettle and constitution.

 

[semifan1]

They need to get to guys from Armageddon on this stat.

There is one drilling truck still floating around in space still. The other blew up on the rock...

 

[flatskw88]

I think they are going to have to sedate or at least medicate those kids to get them out. Can't imagine that they can stay calm enough to go back out in tight space underwater with breathing devices on and limited to no visibility....I get the sweats just thinking about it...

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Was thinking the same, anesthetize the kids, buckle on helmets with breathing masks, fasten oxygen tanks, and have experienced divers tow them out like cargo

Sounds harsh but can't imagine these kids scubaing out 2-3 miles in muck/murky water when as of today they cannot even swim.

Or attach a rope / pully, latch them to it and have a machine reel them out. Put divers at the narrow openings to guide the kids through them safely / wheel them across the solid ground portions.

 

[cfbfan23]

I call dibs on the movie rights...

The movie should be filmed in black & black.

 

[LesClaypool]

The movie should be filmed in black & black.

 

[flatskw88]

Was thinking the same, anesthetize the kids, buckle on helmets with breathing masks, fasten oxygen tanks, and have experienced divers tow them out like cargo

Sounds harsh but can't imagine these kids scubaing out 2-3 miles in muck/murky water when as of today they cannot even swim.

Or attach a rope / pully, latch them to it and have a machine reel them out. Put divers at the narrow openings to guide the kids through them safely / wheel them across the solid ground portions.

Made so much sense I heard a former Seal interviewed this AM and he said he thought medicating the kids was the way to go and he would not want to be in the shoes of those kids or rescuers. He actually said he was glad he wasn't in that situation. If any of the evacuees panics that could be it. Being in a tight cave under water is one of the ways I would not want to go.....Those rescuers are incredible to be able to do what they do.

 

[Spearhead04]

Sounds like they need some bigger pumps. A thousand gallons really isn’t that much water per hour.

 

[PoopandBoogers]

The thing about sedating them is that how does that interfere with their breathing when 20 or 30 meters underwater and in a weakened state? They also have to hike and climb much of the way as well.

Probably be the best way though. Just drug the hell outta the boys that seem frail or unfit, and hike/swim/carry the kids out the whole way on boards. I cant imagine them waiting 4 months in a cave or drilling a km down into a mtn and pulling them up.

Also saw that they were thinking of positioning divers/specialists every 10m along the path along with one behind and in front each kid the whole way out. Sounds like a plan.