Thai boys stuck in cave

[VelociRapture]

This is an article about a woman named Helena (née Carroll) Overton. Back in October 2007 she was the sole survivor of a cave flooding event in Thailand.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/apos-water-rises-apos-painful-130000286.html

The water rushed into the cave very unexpectedly and knocked the other travelers and their guides away from her very quickly. She survived thanks to a ledge she and her boyfriend managed to grab onto. Her boyfriend, John Cullen, told her to stay on the ledge while he went for help. He ultimately died in the attempt. Helena was trapped on the ledge for 16 hours before a local man, who insisted on searching deeper in the cave, found her and saved her. In the article, she talks about how horrifying the experience and dealing with the aftermath was and continues to be for her.

This is not going to be an event these boys and their coach move past easily. It’s going to take a lot of continuing support from their families, loved ones, and medical professionals in order for them to even begin to cope with everything they’ve been through and experienced. 

[Briefly]

12 hours ago, Kangaroo said:

Local media has begun reporting that two boys have successfully made it out and are being treated at the cave entrance, though there is not official confirmation yet.

Most media has been moved approximately 3km (1.8 miles) away, but there is one Thai crew that have permission to film and distribute any footage if they are rescued.

I'm going to bed now, but I sincerely hope tomorrow when I wake up that they are all safe and sound and we can all celebrate good news.

I'm actually glad that they moved the media away.  Yes, they do want to report on the story.  But those children, and their families, do not need to have their faces broadcast as they are coming out and that goes double if they are injured in any way.

5 hours ago, candygirl200413 said:

Orange fuckface tweeted this morning about how "he's monitoring the situation" but I highly doubt the US sent anyone. So far I heard it's been various Europeans and an Australian doctor who is also there?

Monitoring the situation.  OK, so he's got the radio on!  I'm sure he gets updates as do the rest of the leaders of countries.  Not that I consider him much of a leader, but you know.  I think that I did hear there is some American presence there, but it might not be an official representative.

[nvmbr02]

We have been following this story and it really hits close to home. We were just in Thailand last year and we did do some cave exploration. The caves are amazing and having been to caves there (though in a different region) I can easily see how something like this could happen. I will admit I was not very hopeful when I heard they were missing and didn't even feel much better when they were found. I do feel some hope now that 4 of the boys have been rescued though I am still worried that conditions will get much worse and the boys (and coach) will continue to get sicker. I can not even imagine what the families and the community as well as the boys and coach are going through. 

[Rachel333]

The next set of rescues is currently underway. I also read that the coach was one of the first four rescued, as he was one of the ones in the worst shape.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44760896

This also has a list of the boys:

Quote

Who are the boys and their coach?

Chanin Vibulrungruang, 11 (Nickname: Titan) - started playing football aged seven

Panumas Sangdee, 13 (Nickname: Mig), wrote to his parents: "The Navy Seals are taking good care of me"

Duganpet Promtep, 13 (Nickname: Dom) - captain of the Wild Boars, reportedly scouted by several Thai professional clubs

Somepong Jaiwong, 13 (nickname: Pong) - reportedly dreams of playing for the Thai national team

Mongkol Booneiam, 13 (nickname: Mark) - described by his teacher as a "very respectful and good child"

Nattawut Takamrong, 14 (nickname: Tern) - told his parents not to worry about him

Ekarat Wongsukchan, 14 (nickname: Bew) - promised his mother he would help her at the shop once he was rescued

Adul Sam-on, 14 - member of a volleyball team that came second in a North Thailand-wide tournament

Prajak Sutham, 15 (nickname: Note) - described by family friends as a "smart, quiet guy"

Pipat Pho, 15 (nickname: Nick) - wrote in his letter he wanted his parents to take him for barbecued food once rescued

Pornchai Kamluang, 16 (nickname: Tee) - told his parents "don't worry, I'm very happy"

Peerapat Sompiangjai, 17 (nickname: Night) - it was his birthday the day the boys went missing, and his parents have told him they are still waiting to hold his birthday party

Assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong (nickname Ake), 25 - apologised in his letter to the parents, but they replied that they did not blame him

Edit: It's unconfirmed that the coach was one of the first four:

 

Edited July 9, 2018 by Rachel333

[nvmbr02]

I read one report that said the weakest were rescued first and then another that said that was incorrect and that they took the healthiest first. I have also heard the coach is one of the sickest at the moment, but everything seems to be unconfirmed at this point.

[Tenyari]

On 7/7/2018 at 7:26 PM, Beermeet said:

How did they get all the way back there?  Seems impossible!  

From my understanding, they had to retreat farther down in the cave once the flooding started because the water trapped them. Also, multiple of my friends from Thailand had stated that the weather warnings were for July and that the monsoon was sudden and unexpected, hence why the coach thought it would be safe to go in at the time, since it was supposed to be clear and sunny that day. I feel like, after all that they've been through and the fact he managed to keep all of them alive for 9 days, giving them his supply of food and water, he doesn't need to be punished further more, but some people have been calling for him to be jailed after this and even left there in the cave which I feel is so messed up. Everyone wants to play judge and jury nowadays but this experience is going to be traumatic on all people involved and that's not punishment enough, not to mention that the coach surely knows that yes, he brought those boys to that cave, they're there because of him, a man died trying to save them, he's gonna have the worst psychological trauma out of them all and he's gonna blame himself much more than other people blame him atm.

[Shadoewolf]

My brother is a certified master diver and instructor, has done dives all over the world and cave diving still freaks him out because SO much can go wrong. Hopefully they can get the rest out safely. 

[nvmbr02]

I am watching CNN right now and they are saying a 5th boy has come out of the cave, on a stretcher. Hopefully more will be out soon. 

[nvmbr02]

CNN is now reporting the 6th and 7th boys are out, no other updates yet

[Tenyari]

Twitter says the whole world finally united for one soccer club and it's true, all of us are really rooting for those boys with all our might. Hoping for the best.

[VelociRapture]

3 hours ago, Tenyari said:

From my understanding, they had to retreat farther down in the cave once the flooding started because the water trapped them. Also, multiple of my friends from Thailand had stated that the weather warnings were for July and that the monsoon was sudden and unexpected, hence why the coach thought it would be safe to go in at the time, since it was supposed to be clear and sunny that day. I feel like, after all that they've been through and the fact he managed to keep all of them alive for 9 days, giving them his supply of food and water, he doesn't need to be punished further more, but some people have been calling for him to be jailed after this and even left there in the cave which I feel is so messed up. Everyone wants to play judge and jury nowadays but this experience is going to be traumatic on all people involved and that's not punishment enough, not to mention that the coach surely knows that yes, he brought those boys to that cave, they're there because of him, a man died trying to save them, he's gonna have the worst psychological trauma out of them all and he's gonna blame himself much more than other people blame him atm.

Those people are calling for vengeance, not justice. Justice would be focusing on getting everyone through this safely, allowing the Thai justice system to decide whether charging anyone is appropriate, and ensuring all the people involved are offered adequate support in the months and years to come.

16 minutes ago, nvmbr02 said:

CNN is now reporting the 6th and 7th boys are out, no other updates yet

Keeping my fingers crossed that all continues to go well!!!!

[squiddysquid]

8th boy is out!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/jul/09/thai-cave-rescue-resumes-to-free-eight-boys-and-coach-still-trapped-latest-news

[laPapessaGiovanna]

17 hours ago, candygirl200413 said:

Orange fuckface tweeted this morning about how "he's monitoring the situation" but I highly doubt the US sent anyone. So far I heard it's been various Europeans and an Australian doctor who is also there?

What? Haven't you heard of the amazing inventions of Gyro Gearloose er I mean Elon Musk. /sarcasm

Honestly I think it's probable that some Americans are among the rescuers. But what is certain atm is that neither Fuckface nor Gyro were of any help, just quick to appropriate the attention and the merits.

[WiseGirl]

8 boys out. Four boys and the coach left. I had heard it was the strongest that went first, which makes sense because I think you would want to smooth out any kinks before you took the most fragile out. I believe they are done for the day. I want to see accolades rained down on those divers and all who planned it. I am in awe. A Danish diver was on the Today show this morning via phone. 

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/asia/thai-cave-rescue-intl/index.html

https://www.today.com/video/diver-who-helped-thailand-rescue-says-the-main-focus-is-to-keep-boys-from-panicking-1272921667737

 

[VelociRapture]

Just now, WiseGirl said:

8 boys out. Four boys and the coach left. I had heard it was the strongest that went first, which makes sense because I think you would want to smooth out any kinks before you took the most fragile out. I believe they are done for the day. I want to see accolades rained down on those divers and all who planned it. I am in awe. A Danish diver was on the Today show this morning via phone. 

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/asia/thai-cave-rescue-intl/index.html

https://www.today.com/video/diver-who-helped-thailand-rescue-says-the-main-focus-is-to-keep-boys-from-panicking-1272921667737

 

 I had read the healthiest went first as well prior to seeing the articles stating otherwise mentioned here. Healthiest first definitely makes more sense to me given the extreme danger of the rescue. I also found it tough to believe the claims that the Coach had been rescued already too. The man gave up his portion of their food to keep those boys alive and healthy - I very much doubted that he’d agree to be evacuated before all his kids are safe*. 

I’m glad so many of them are out safely now. Those divers must be absolutely phenomenal at what they do to get so many of them out as quickly and safely as they have. Fingers crossed I wake up to more food news tomorrow!

*Not that he may have had much choice. The rescuers have a plan they need to follow. Just a personal opinion, but I do think he would have volunteered to go last if given the option.

[Howl]

1 hour ago, laPapessaGiovanna said:

Honestly I think it's probable that some Americans are among the rescuers. But what is certain atm is that neither Fuckface nor Gyro were of any help, just quick to appropriate the attention and the merits.

Don't know about Americans, but there are definitely some experienced Brit cave divers on the scene.  A facebook friend who is an experienced caver diver and has a lot of experience with cave rescue protocols noted that between each rescue, air tanks have to be recharged, gear checked, maybe a few minutes of rest for rescuers.  There would be rescuers stationed in each section of the cave, and at the beginning and the end of each difficult passage, as well as the rescuers accompanying each kid.  A lot of people, a lot of moving parts.  I've been in enough river caves to know that they are extremely fortunate that hypothermia from the air temperature is not a factor, but the water won't be as warm;  keeping the kids from being chilled when they are already in a weakened state is definitely something that has to be considered. 

I have to add that if the coach taught the kids meditation, it will be invaluable to those kids to keep body mind and soul together during the really scary parts of those water filled passages.  I've read comments early on that none of those kids could swim, so think about that.

Edited July 9, 2018 by Howl

[Tenyari]

Heard from one of my Thai friends that the news in Thailand are saying that the coach went inside the cave AFTER the boys entered. The circumstances aren't clear 100%, but the boys said to one of the first divers who found them that they were there to celebrate a birthday of one of them (Night) as part of an initiation ritual of sorts.

[squiddysquid]

He also taught them to drink the water dripping from the ceiling and nothing else.

Their teacher is the weakest now because he refused his food rations.

The parents already wrote him thank you letters, if they're not blaming him I'm guessing there's a reason.

I don't think they would have survived for long without him.

[ViolaSebastian]

 

56 minutes ago, Howl said:

Don't know about Americans, but there are definitely some experienced Brit cave divers on the scene.  A facebook friend who is an experienced caver diver and has a lot of experience with cave rescue protocols noted that between each rescue, air tanks have to be recharged, gear checked, maybe a few minutes of rest for rescuers.  There would be rescuers stationed in each section of the cave, and at the beginning and the end of each difficult passage, as well as the rescuers accompanying each kid.  A lot of people, a lot of moving parts.  I've been in enough river caves to know that they are extremely fortunate that hypothermia from the air temperature is not a factor, but the water won't be as warm;  keeping the kids from being chilled when they are already in a weakened state is definitely something that has to be considered. 

I have to add that if the coach taught the kids meditation, it will be invaluable to those kids to keep body mind and soul together during the really scary parts of those water filled passages.  I've read comments early on that none of those kids could swim, so think about that.

From some of the reports I’ve read, they’ve also mildly sedated the boys, which makes sense. Panicking under those conditions could be deadly. 

[JenniferJuniper]

There are Americans there.  But none of them are named Trump and Trump has absolutely nothing to do with the rescue efforts.  He'll still manage to give himself credit for any successful rescues, though.  Narcissistic pig. 

[Tenyari]

Also, reading his incredibly hard life story and learning about just how much he does for those boys and their families on the daily makes me believe even more that he would never endanger them intentionally and would do absolutely everything including sacrificing his own rations to help them survive. He put them first 100% and I admire that a lot.

[nausicaa]

1 hour ago, laPapessaGiovanna said:

What? Haven't you heard of the amazing inventions of Gyro Gearloose er I mean Elon Musk. /sarcasm

Honestly I think it's probable that some Americans are among the rescuers. But what is certain atm is that neither Fuckface nor Gyro were of any help, just quick to appropriate the attention and the merits.

I'm kind of glad that someone else is noticing, and annoyed by, Elon Musk's appropriation of this situation for his own promotion and accolades. 

[Tenyari]

Elon Musk and Donald Trump learn not everything's about you challenge

[Howl]

I wonder if any of the boys are Rohingya refugees. 

[Tenyari]

6 minutes ago, Howl said:

I wonder if any of the boys are Rohingya refugees. 

From what I've read, a lot of the boys the coach works with are either really poor or come from ethnic minority families that are common in the area they live (close to Myanmar), or both. So, it's very possible that they are.