Thailand - FOUND ALIVE - 12 Boys And Coach Still Trapped In Cave , 23 June 2018 #2

[margarita25]

Richard Barrow in Thailand
@RichardBarrow
1h

"The body of Warrant Officer Saman Kunan, a retired SEAL member, is taken onboard a C-130 plane. Saman died performing an operation to rescue the 12 footballers and their coach stranded in Tham Luang cave (link: Navy to seek royally-approved rank for deceased SEAL member - Thai PBS English News) englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/navy-seek-roya… Photos: @SpringNews_TV #ThamLuang #ถ้ำหลวง #Thailand"

Richard Barrow in Thailand (@RichardBarrow) on Twitter

*see image, looks like SpaceX and Boring has engineers headed there.

********

Former Thai navy SEAL dies while supplying soccer team trapped in flooded cave

"A post to the Facebook page of the Thai navy SEALS mourning Kunan read in part:

"He resigned from the military and had worked as a patrol officer at the Suvarnabhumi Airport since 2006. He was a very capable SEAL and a triathlete who liked adventure sports. Although he resigned from the unit, he still loved and had a good connection with all the SEALs. ... Even the last part of his life, 1st Petty Officer Saman left us and this world while working with the SEAL brothers who are also trying to go forward and complete the mission as planned.

"His determination and good intention will always be in the heart of all SEAL brothers. Today, you get some good rest. We will complete the mission for you.""

******

 

[Seattle1]

Bangkok current 5:04pm
BST: +6 hours
PST: Today +14 hours

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

There are areas near the boys' cavern that are approximately 1600 feet below the ground. See the diagram.

I wouldn't bet my life on a news graphic being accurate . Every one I see is different .

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

http://www.businessinsider.com/former-navy-seal-rescuing-thai-soccer-team-trapped-in-cave-dies-2018-7Former navy SEAL working to rescue Thai soccer team trapped in a cave has died
Each diver reportedly needs to carry three heavy oxygen tanks to deliver them to the cave. But the path is treacherous, winding, and long, taking skilled divers around five hours each way.
"His job was to deliver oxygen. He did not have enough on his way back," Chiang Rai Deputy Governor Passakorn Boonyaluck told reporters.

I've read that *none* of the Thai divers were certified for cave diving. That's probably why they asked for help with experienced cave divers. And probably why they (imo) underestimated the risks and ov

That's not all of the story. He was an experienced diver who had full oxygen tanks with him. Every diver is taught how to change a tank underwater. He must have become trapped.

Was he one of the Thai Navy SEALS. No one on the Thai SEAL team was experienced in cave diving.

 

[Jax49]

I've read that *none* of the Thai divers were certified for cave diving. That's probably why they asked for help with experienced cave divers. And probably why they (imo) underestimated the risks and ov

Was he one of the Thai Navy SEALS. No one on the Thai SEAL team was experienced in cave diving.

He was a retired Thai SEAL. Haven't heard anything to indicate he had any cave diving experience.

 

[SunVenus]

Devastated to hear a Navy SEAL died, shows how dangerous this mission is.

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but could they not drill DOWN into the cave floor to try and drain water that way, like a bath plug?

No way to do that unless they knew geologically what lies beneath. Is there a place for that water to go? Can they get the properly-sized and powered gear in? Can they get a reasonably accurate geological survey? They may be doing that; I hope to heaven they are. The area is covered by fissures, so if it isn't naturally draining (or if an opening were too small versus the incoming rain) that would simply be too slow. And drilling in an undrilled, unmined area is tricky. This is a wild terrain. Openings, fissures, unexplored caves... it's just dicey.

But then again-- maybe there is a natural drain spot. And perhaps a natural chimney that can be doctored to at least give oxygen and UV light and supplies. This may be so as the one long-term plan they had was to keep the young men there until the monsoon season ended. This is why they have climbers scouring the terrain above ground.

However, they seem more inclined to move them now, which means months of pumping and dangerous life-support measures is even more risky. Those monsoon rains can be heavy, and in a fissured terrain more water gets in. More water may mean a potential tactical and dangerous shift to another passage, which would need to be ventilated, accessible, provisioned, etc. The risks are high, but not impossible.

Also, trying to drill in a submerged passage would present its own difficulties. I think this is why they are worrying about that dog-leg passage wherein hard-core professional cave diving skills are needed. Unless they find a safe way to do it, blasting or drilling in a fully submerged cave passage is time-consuming and perhaps geologically unsafe. So if they have to swim out, they have to face a tight breach that even professional cave-divers find hard. (e.g side-mounted tanks, or disengaging and squeezing through a tiny opening), plus a bad current, plus the lack of visibility-- things even seasoned divers can fall prey to. Maybe they can hammer it out, but that requires not only cave-diving skill, but takes time and skills that even most accomplished cave divers may not have. But you know what? I think these young men can do it, if they must.

This is just my layperson's perspective. Given my druthers, I'd love to send more people onto the mountain to find a natural chimney and go from there. But that means time, and we lack that if the monsoon is to be as expected. I hate the idea of these young men having to do a cave dive.

I hate being a nay-sayer, and I am not. I believe this rescue can and will happen, in some form.

Let's not give up!

 

[SunVenus]

I've read that *none* of the Thai divers were certified for cave diving. That's probably why they asked for help with experienced cave divers. And probably why they (imo) underestimated the risks and ov

Was he one of the Thai Navy SEALS. No one on the Thai SEAL team was experienced in cave diving.

From everything that I have learned (armchair masochist enthusiast) about cave diving it is a step and so much beyond open water diving. It's a beast unto itself. There are many documentaries on Youtube about it-- enough to make most of us run screaming.

At least divers are trying, and it hurts that we've lost a good diver doing his level-best, heartfelt desire to aid these young men. Cave diving is no joke, and he may not have seen conditions like this before. Cave diving is a niche sport. But he did his best.

May the gods bless Saman Kunam. He is a hero, and an example of just what humanity will bear to go that extra mile. May he and his loved ones find peace.

 

[Bravo]

Good day all. Caught up but waaay too many posts to thank/like. Back refreshed today and thanks for all the kind support yesterday. I wish I felt better about this situation. Maybe there will be some positive news today. RIP Saman. So very sorry to read of his death.

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Devastated to hear a Navy SEAL died, shows how dangerous this mission is.

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but could they not drill DOWN into the cave floor to try and drain water that way, like a bath plug?

I would be surprised if they could get drilling equipment in given the narrow passages

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

Frankly, I think they need a few tons of good old fashioned dynamite, and blow the side off that sucker.

there are no good options. blasting risks collapsing the whole cave system.

 

[*Verdigris]

I wish they would have been able to procure more powerful pumps right from the start. Flooding was always the main (and pretty much the only) problem from the beginning. It seems they were just trying to just make-do with what they had. It was obvious it was miserably slow. Had they let it be known in the initial hours, that they needed better pumps, the boys would probably have been out days ago.
Well, yes -- hind-sight is 20/20 and all that...
But I think a lot of precious time was lost, simply because they were overwhelmed and didn't get word out soon enough how critical this really was.

 

[Jax49]

Thai cave rescuers face race against time as oxygen levels drop - CNN

"Pressure is mounting on Thai authorities to bring forward a rescue plan for 12 boys and their coach trapped deep inside a flooded cave in northern Thailand, after the death of a former navy diver and a drop in oxygen levels underground.

Officials initially thought they could keep the boys and their coach in the cave where they are trapped for up to four months, until waters dropped sufficiently for them to be able to walk out.

But the death of a rescue team member, and the realization that oxygen levels have fallen to potentially dangerous levels, appears to have forced a reassessment of the situation."

 

[*Verdigris]

there are no good options. blasting risks collapsing the whole cave system.

I know! I wasn't really serious, I was just being blustery -- I shoulda used a smiley or winky, but I'm a little cranky today...

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I'll tell you what, I am never going in a cave again.

 

[Jax49]

If I see another "Oxygen Running Out" headline I may scream.

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

I know! I wasn't really serious, I was just being blustery -- I shoulda used a smiley or winky, but I'm a little cranky today...

yeah... understand... it's hard to watch this.

 

[SunVenus]

I know! I wasn't really serious, I was just being blustery -- I shoulda used a smiley or winky, but I'm a little cranky today...

Hugs to you Verdigris. Hugs to all. Everyone is on edge. be angry, be upset-- that's a natural feeling in this clusterwhahoodle. Hugs and love to the world community and to these young men and their families, and to their huge pool of selfless rescuers. Miracles happen every day- the Almighty is not a tease. And the human spirit is never doused. *huggles*

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

OT, but does anyone else think that Elan Musk is Batman?

 

[CoverMeCagney]

OT, but does anyone else think that Elan Musk is Batman?

Let’s hope so, Batman’s good at caves.

 

[SunVenus]

yeah... understand... it's hard to watch this.

Me too! Let's all make an "I am freaking out brigade" and hold on to the divine and each other and the indomitable spirit of the rescuers! *virtual squeezes to all and for our Thai young men*