I have haphazardly followed the story of the 12 Thai boys and their coach who have been lost for 10 days. They are trapped in a cave now inundated with monsoon rains. They were found by divers on Monday, July 2. Today the question is whether to bring them out now, or leave them, perhaps for weeks, until the waters subside. More rains are expected; the boys are in a weakened condition; the swim out is precarious. What to do? "Monsoon rains may force Thai cave rescue attempt this week." The Guardian.
Maybe I read too many boy's adventure stories when I was a kid: With Henty in Afghanistan, etc. But it is moving to read about the boys, the rescuers, the challenges ahead. Given the state of the world, the victims, refugees, asylum seekers, begging for our help, why is this story so compelling? Comments.
Here is an account by one of the divers who went in: from the Guardian:
Ben Raymenants, who was 400m behind the British divers when the boys
were found, suggests they are too weak to attempt a dive rescue for the
moment.
Speaking to Sky News he said: “The condition of the boys is quite
stable. They are mentally quite fit, better than anticipated. They are
very weak though. They did not have any solid food for 10 days, just
drinking water dripping from the walls. There are now two navy Seal
doctors giving them food slowly, enabling them to get their powers back.
And then see if they can evacuate the boys. “First the boys need to get their strength again, because right
now they can’t do anything at all. They have muscle atrophy, they can
barely stand up. So they are feeding them slowly to get back their
strength."
Raymenants described reaching the boys as “very taxing”.
He said: "It is an extreme cave system. It is very long, one of the longest in Thailand, and its a complex system of tunnels. The Thai navy is not that specialised in cave diving, so we were
taking turns with the British team in laying fixed ropes, 2.5km into
that tunnel making a way to this room where we expected the kids would
be.
Raymenants said the boys had made their way though the tunnel as part of a local initiation rite. "They had no food. They left their backpacks and their shoes before
wading in there, trying to go the end of the tunnel like an initiation
for local young boys to go to the the end of the tunnel and write your name on the wall."
Raymenats outlined three options for getting the boys out: "One is to teach them to scuba dive. It is a least a 2.5km swim
through narrow restrictions of a complex cave system. This is not the
easiest solution.They are also trying to pump the cave empty with giant pumps which
was working to some extent. But they are expecting heavy rains in the
next two days.The last option is sitting it out and waiting. Two medical officers
in the Thai navy have volunteered to have themselves locked in with
enough food and supplies to sit there for three or four months until the
water drops again.
He cautioned against the dive option:
This is one of the more extreme cave dives that I have done. It is
very far, and very complex. There is current. The visibility can be zero
at times. So getting boys through there one by one, and the risk that
they will panic is there. They can’t even swim. This has been done
before with pulling people out of wrecks alive. So it is not impossible,
but the issue is the restrictions - just one person can fit through. So
guiding a boy through in front of you could be quite challenging,
especially if the rain picks up and there’s a strong flow and the
visibility reduces to zero. When it starts raining the flow is so hard
you can barely swim against it.
It took us four hours just to swim to the point where we had to tie
off the lines. It is really long swim. So it is really hard to give an
opinion on what is the best solution. I think the weather is going to be the deciding factor.“They can’t swim, so they definitely can’t dive…The easiest [option]
would be that they [people trying to rescue those in the cave] keep
pumping the water out of the cave. They need another three or four feet
so they can literally float them out with life jackets, but time is not
on their side. They’re expecting heavy thunderstorms and rain which
might flood the entire cave system, making the rescue impossible at that
stage.”
If that does happen Reymenants said the boys and the coach could be
expected to be in the cave for “up to 3-4 months.” He added, “Two Thai
Navy doctors have volunteered to be locked up inside the cave…a huge
sacrifice.” Asked about the condition of the boys he said: “They are actually quite responsive…but they are very weak and very skinny.”
I agree there is a boys-adventure-story element to it that makes it easier for us to empathize with their plight (as opposed to, say, "I am fleeing Syria with my parents because our president unleashed chemical attacks against our village" - there aren't many children's books or Disney movies about that).
I used to read the boys' adventure stories too.Think Rick Brant and Tom Swift Jr. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like there is a way to MacGyver their way out of this. The best bet is probably to wait it out, if they can get food and water to them. Bless those navy doctors who offered to wait it out with them. My mom brain is saying, "Let's see, we don't take food, the boys aren't good swimmers, the caves are nearly a kilometer underground through tortuous, convoluted, and marrow passageways. What could possibly go wrong?!" Caves give me the willies to begin with. At least they strung a land line so they can talk to their families. I suppose a cell phone signal can't go through all that rock, not to mention there's no way to charge electronics.
Katherine, just like with the Chilean miners, I'm sure some smart, experienced cats are already thinking of novel approaches using the newest technologies. At least, I'm sure they'll snake an umbilical with air, electricity and communications. Perhaps they can map out another higher cave that can be uses to break through. Poor kids.
Rick Brant! I haven't thought about those books in decades! I used to like his friend, was it Scotty?
There was a book where the bad guys pitched them into Long Island Sound but Scotty, who was ex-Marine, showed Rick how to turn his trousers into a flotation device - apparently you tie the ends of the legs together and then whip them through the air, which inflates the legs; then you put the waist face-down in the water and straddle yourself between the inflated legs. I don't know if it actually works but it seemed like a cool idea when I was 10 or 11.
Jim, I got to reading those books when my brother made me a bargain. He would read a Nancy Drew if I would read a Hardy Boys or a Rick Brant. I did, and enjoyed them. But he reneged on his part. However I was the winner, because I doubled my reading repertoire by reading the boys' fiction as well as the girls'.
Stanley, there was some dark humor with that Chilean rescue. One of the guy's wife and his girfriend were both waiting for him at the top when he came out of the hole. Also they were lowering down some rather skimpy rations to the trapped men because they wanted them thin and fit to be able pull them out sooner.
Jim, using your pants as a flotation device works if you don't drown trying to tie wet pant legs, which is a difficult maneuver in or out of the water. We had to learn this in lifesavers swimming. Easier flotation is to use your tee shirt. Raise the hem out of the water make an air bubble. Best if you can tighten the neck so the air doesn't leak out.
I would still, at my age, jump out of an airplane if I ever get the chance I never had. But you couldn't get me into a cave if you sedated me first. My boys' books were about Dave Dawson, not Henty, at such places as Singapore and Dunkirk, and Dawson usually had an airplane handy. I don't remember him going underground; if he did, I've repressed it.
But I'm rooting for these kids, who seem to have not panicked.
The diver Raymenant's description of the trip out was enough to give me a claustrophobic creep. It sounds like there are narrow passages in some places, meaning that the boys would have to pass through themselves without the friendly dolphins helping them.... AAARGH!!
Spending three of four months underground sounds impossible in the basis of sunlight deprivation alone. And what if the water rises in that time? Wonder why they are not thinking of drilling in.
It looks like efforts to get the boys out in advance of a storm expected on Friday are moving forward. This is the daring plan: "Once the rescue gets underway, a static rope, which is already in place, will guide each boy and his respective rescue diver through the murky, rushing waters towards the entrance—or, more appropriately, the exit. Alternately, a team of rescue divers would position themselves along the route, passing the boys to each other in a relay style. The journey could take as long as three hours or more, so stage tanks will be positioned every 80 to 160 feet (25 to 50) meters in case oxygen levels start to run low and tanks need to be replaced. The boys will not be expected to carry their own oxygen tanks, instead relying on tanks carried by their rescuer. Ideally, only one boy would go at a time to prevent bottlenecks."
They've already lost a young experienced diver. This tragedy shows that extraction of untrained adolescents would be catastrophic. I hope they can think of an alternative.
Stanley, I saw that, too. I was astounded at the description of the length and narrowness of the passages. I don't understand how they got in there to begin with. So sad about the diver losing his life. Praying for them.
Katherine, Elon just sent a team from his Boring Co. to the scene. They have advanced ground radar. He floated an idea of an inflatable tunnel. How do you make one fast and validate it? Or they might just tunnel through. Just might be the answer to our prayers.
Latest from Elon: his space X engineers are building a kid sized submarine pod due to be finished in eight hours and flown to Thailand in 17. Hope it works.
Maybe they can give them something to tranquilize them. Poor kids. It's something how they could save the Apollo XIII astronauts out in space and yet have difficulty with kids only a mile underground.
I am freaking out just thinking about being a mile or more into the bowels of the earth. Would be like being buried alive. I wouldn't have been a good miner.
By "brute force" I mean going with what they got, lots of divers and lots of tanks. No fancy shmancy technology. Just going in, taking the risk and getting the job done.
I agree there is a boys-adventure-story element to it that makes it easier for us to empathize with their plight (as opposed to, say, "I am fleeing Syria with my parents because our president unleashed chemical attacks against our village" - there aren't many children's books or Disney movies about that).
ReplyDeleteI used to read the boys' adventure stories too.Think Rick Brant and Tom Swift Jr. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like there is a way to MacGyver their way out of this. The best bet is probably to wait it out, if they can get food and water to them. Bless those navy doctors who offered to wait it out with them. My mom brain is saying, "Let's see, we don't take food, the boys aren't good swimmers, the caves are nearly a kilometer underground through tortuous, convoluted, and marrow passageways. What could possibly go wrong?!" Caves give me the willies to begin with. At least they strung a land line so they can talk to their families. I suppose a cell phone signal can't go through all that rock, not to mention there's no way to charge electronics.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, just like with the Chilean miners, I'm sure some smart, experienced cats are already thinking of novel approaches using the newest technologies. At least, I'm sure they'll snake an umbilical with air, electricity and communications. Perhaps they can map out another higher cave that can be uses to break through. Poor kids.
DeleteRick Brant! I haven't thought about those books in decades! I used to like his friend, was it Scotty?
DeleteThere was a book where the bad guys pitched them into Long Island Sound but Scotty, who was ex-Marine, showed Rick how to turn his trousers into a flotation device - apparently you tie the ends of the legs together and then whip them through the air, which inflates the legs; then you put the waist face-down in the water and straddle yourself between the inflated legs. I don't know if it actually works but it seemed like a cool idea when I was 10 or 11.
Jim, I got to reading those books when my brother made me a bargain. He would read a Nancy Drew if I would read a Hardy Boys or a Rick Brant. I did, and enjoyed them. But he reneged on his part. However I was the winner, because I doubled my reading repertoire by reading the boys' fiction as well as the girls'.
DeleteStanley, there was some dark humor with that Chilean rescue. One of the guy's wife and his girfriend were both waiting for him at the top when he came out of the hole.
DeleteAlso they were lowering down some rather skimpy rations to the trapped men because they wanted them thin and fit to be able pull them out sooner.
Jim, using your pants as a flotation device works if you don't drown trying to tie wet pant legs, which is a difficult maneuver in or out of the water. We had to learn this in lifesavers swimming. Easier flotation is to use your tee shirt. Raise the hem out of the water make an air bubble. Best if you can tighten the neck so the air doesn't leak out.
DeleteI would still, at my age, jump out of an airplane if I ever get the chance I never had. But you couldn't get me into a cave if you sedated me first. My boys' books were about Dave Dawson, not Henty, at such places as Singapore and Dunkirk, and Dawson usually had an airplane handy. I don't remember him going underground; if he did, I've repressed it.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm rooting for these kids, who seem to have not panicked.
I don't have claustrophobia but if I had their experience, I'm sure I would have.
DeleteThe diver Raymenant's description of the trip out was enough to give me a claustrophobic creep. It sounds like there are narrow passages in some places, meaning that the boys would have to pass through themselves without the friendly dolphins helping them.... AAARGH!!
ReplyDeleteSpending three of four months underground sounds impossible in the basis of sunlight deprivation alone. And what if the water rises in that time? Wonder why they are not thinking of drilling in.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like efforts to get the boys out in advance of a storm expected on Friday are moving forward.
ReplyDeleteThis is the daring plan:
"Once the rescue gets underway, a static rope, which is already in place, will guide each boy and his respective rescue diver through the murky, rushing waters towards the entrance—or, more appropriately, the exit. Alternately, a team of rescue divers would position themselves along the route, passing the boys to each other in a relay style. The journey could take as long as three hours or more, so stage tanks will be positioned every 80 to 160 feet (25 to 50) meters in case oxygen levels start to run low and tanks need to be replaced. The boys will not be expected to carry their own oxygen tanks, instead relying on tanks carried by their rescuer. Ideally, only one boy would go at a time to prevent bottlenecks."
Sounds like they're going to give it a try. And sounds like they have thought it through. Quite impressive. Hope they all reach their parents' arms.
DeleteThey've already lost a young experienced diver. This tragedy shows that extraction of untrained adolescents would be catastrophic. I hope they can think of an alternative.
DeleteStanley, I saw that, too. I was astounded at the description of the length and narrowness of the passages. I don't understand how they got in there to begin with. So sad about the diver losing his life. Praying for them.
DeleteKatherine, Elon just sent a team from his Boring Co. to the scene. They have advanced ground radar. He floated an idea of an inflatable tunnel. How do you make one fast and validate it? Or they might just tunnel through. Just might be the answer to our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThey need all the help they can get, good for Elon if he can do something.
DeleteLatest from Elon: his space X engineers are building a kid sized submarine pod due to be finished in eight hours and flown to Thailand in 17. Hope it works.
ReplyDeleteHope the boys fit. Or maybe only a few do. Those who really can't swim and like some of us, can't abide anything over their face.
DeleteMaybe they can give them something to tranquilize them. Poor kids. It's something how they could save the Apollo XIII astronauts out in space and yet have difficulty with kids only a mile underground.
DeleteI am freaking out just thinking about being a mile or more into the bowels of the earth. Would be like being buried alive. I wouldn't have been a good miner.
DeleteLet us pray: Lord, Safely deliver them. And their rescuers!
Delete10:30: four safely delivered.
DeleteThanks for the update, Matgaret. We'll keep praying for the others.
Delete8 out of 13 safely extracted using the "brute force" diving method. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI saw that 4 more got out. Now only 5 to go. Stanley, what is "brute force" diving?
DeleteYes Stanley....Brute force??? diving. What is it?
DeleteBy "brute force" I mean going with what they got, lots of divers and lots of tanks. No fancy shmancy technology. Just going in, taking the risk and getting the job done.
DeleteThey're all out now as of this morning.
ReplyDeleteTragic that the navy seal was lost. But it could have been all of them.
Bet there will be a movie.
ReplyDelete