BruceK
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2011
- Messages
- 13,347
- Vessel Name
- Sojourn
- Vessel Make
- Integrity 386
I know there are divers among the TF community. Many TFers, divers or not, may be following the continuing rescue of 12 boys aged 11-16 and their 25yo basketball coach, who were trapped 4km into a Chiang Rai cave complex when heavy rain raised the water levels, cutting off their return.
A large international contingent of rescuers is on the scene, in the last 2 days 2 groups of 4 boys have been brought out by rescuers, 2 assisting each boy to swim up to 40m underwater,and to pass through narrow underwater passages so tight they cannot be passed with air bottle attached. Underwater visibility is practically nil. Bear in mind these boys did not know how to swim,let alone scuba dive,and spent 10 days in the refuge chamber without food before British divers reached them finding all 13 together, and relatively well.
The rescue is urgent,monsoonal rains are expected,and the chamber in which the group took refuge could flood and the group drown.
The strongest have been brought out first, the last 5 may be more of a challenge. But the rescuers, who must rest for some 20 hours between each rescue event, are now more practised and faster with experience.
Spare a thought for the boys and their rescuers today in what should be the final extraction. Those TF members who dive, especially in tight hazardous conditions, will know better than most how difficult the operation must be, and how skilled and brave are their rescuers, and indeed, all those associated with the operation.
A large international contingent of rescuers is on the scene, in the last 2 days 2 groups of 4 boys have been brought out by rescuers, 2 assisting each boy to swim up to 40m underwater,and to pass through narrow underwater passages so tight they cannot be passed with air bottle attached. Underwater visibility is practically nil. Bear in mind these boys did not know how to swim,let alone scuba dive,and spent 10 days in the refuge chamber without food before British divers reached them finding all 13 together, and relatively well.
The rescue is urgent,monsoonal rains are expected,and the chamber in which the group took refuge could flood and the group drown.
The strongest have been brought out first, the last 5 may be more of a challenge. But the rescuers, who must rest for some 20 hours between each rescue event, are now more practised and faster with experience.
Spare a thought for the boys and their rescuers today in what should be the final extraction. Those TF members who dive, especially in tight hazardous conditions, will know better than most how difficult the operation must be, and how skilled and brave are their rescuers, and indeed, all those associated with the operation.
Last edited:
