Missing Thai-boys found safe in cave; rescue may take months
Ten days after a group of young boys and their soccer coach vanished in a Thai cave, rescuers finally made contact with them yesterday, bringing cheer to a wide audience that has devotedly followed the story. All 13 were found surprisingly normal. They sat, stood and talked to their rescuers, albeit briefly. But the struggle isn't over: getting them out of the cave might take months.
On leisure trip, boys got caught amid floodwaters
On June 23, the 25-year-old coach took the 12 boys, aged 11-16, to the Tham Luang cave, but got trapped by rising floodwaters. Rescue operations started the next day. However, amid heavy rains, water rose faster than it could be pumped out. In the next days, the Thai navy was joined by rescue personnel from the US, Britain, China, and volunteers from all over.
Bringing relief to rescuers, the boys were walking and talking
After many obstacles, including three rescuers getting electrocuted, rains subsided on July 1, allowing them access to a hitherto-blocked chamber. Late night yesterday, the group, led by the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC), found the boys huddled up on an elevated rock surrounded by water, 4km from the cave's mouth. For the hungry boys, food was priority. "Eat, eat, eat," one of them said.
They now have various options, but how practical are they?
The next step is getting the boys out. Rescuers could pump out water, but according to Bill Whitehouse, BCRC Vice-Chairman, "pumping a monsoon away isn't easy." Explorers have found other openings, but it isn't yet known if they lead to the chamber where the boys are. They could walk out, but they'd have to wait for the water to recede, which could take weeks.
Making them dive would take months
One option is diving, but that would mean training all 13, which generally takes months. Diving will be particularly difficult in Tham Luang, one of Thailand's longest caves (10km), scattered with winding and narrow corridors, a journey that takes skilled divers six hours. One alternative is to "bring them out in packages," Whitehouse said: full face masks, weights to make them neutrally buoyant, the likes.
Thanks to coach, the boys are mentally calm and strong
One good thing, rescuers noted, is the boys appear mentally fit- they were alert, walking and talking- which will be crucial during extraction from the cave. "Luckily the coach had the sanity of mind to keep them all together...to conserve their energy," said Belgian diver Ben Reymenants.
Relatives are celebrating this tiny ray of hope
The boys have since been physically assessed. Most were categorized 'green,' or having light injuries. For now, the focus is on helping them regain their strength. Food, water and medical aid will be regularly supplied. Thais, who have been waiting for news with bated breath, are hopeful. Scenes near the cave were jubilant: relatives cheered the rescuers, shook hands and shed tears.
