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Apparently local youth initiation ritual to get to the end of the cave & right your name on the back
More British cave divers are flying out with half a ton of kit, including adaptors so that they can use the local Thai air cylinders (different fitting standards..............)
From the Thai media.
Thai rescue diver has died after running out of air on the way back. This is no picnic, is it 🙁
MIght be an hour each way when the cave is dry and you are walking in with trainers and a football shirt. Once flooded it takes 11 hours.
I was reading about phones lines etc running in yesterday and it crossed my mind that the main danger is now to the people shuttling in and out as complacency/familiarity may increase the risk 🙁 (Not saying that is the case with the Thai diver)
Thai rescue diver has died after running out of air on the way back
Just seen it on the news, very sad. Let’s hope everyone else makes it safely from here.
Saw this picture of the diver that died, thought it was worth reposting to contrast against the blandness of the headlines :
It is just me or does he look as hard as nails in that picture?
Its amazing what people will risk to help save their fellow human beings, let’s hope there isn’t any more and everyone stays safe.
Not sue if it's accurate, but the BBC seem to be suggesting that divers are having to take off their bottles to pass a squeeze in one of the sumps. I guess they will try to enlarge the squeeze before attempting any sort of under-water rescue.
(If accurate, this means the squeeze must be very tight; the divers will be wearing side mounted rig)
@blurty - At the foot of the recent BBC articles is a cave survey. This has cross sections of the cave at various point including the squeeze. There's a human figure by each for scale. The squeeze looks to be roughly circular and about a metre in diameter. There's no indication of how long the squeeze is, could be a metre, could be ten.
There’s no indication of how long the squeeze is, could be a metre, could be ten.
10m? Well thanks for that particular vision of hell you've just given me.
This mornings events re-enforces the fact that this is real people, real lives on the line, and 12 already in deep jeopardy. It also re-enforces how risky every dive is in a cave - and that a 'quick' exit for the boys is fraught with issues.
The squeeze must be small for it to be tanks off - and it is tanks off, not side wearing apparently.
One thing I've not seen is whether the water in the flooded sections is flowing or relatively static. The difference in times for getting to the kids and returning would indicate that there's a small flow towards the entrance. That's both a help and a hindrance. Help in that it makes it less work in getting out as you are going with the flow, hindrance in that if there's a dead end you have to ensure that no-one gets into one of those.
Thailand seems to be having a particularly rough ride this monsoon season.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44728478
That's a nice photo of the diver who died. I'd bet that's how he'd like to be remembered. Proper hero. RIP.
New reports suggest they've found a way in from the top that gets to within 200m, and Elon musk has offered his boring equipment! On the minus side they are also saying too many rescuers are depleting the available air for the boys. Following this closely.
I read somewhere that heavy rain is forecast for Sunday.
RIP Saman Gunan (different news outlets quoting different names but what a hero).
Elon Musk has also suggested a huge inflatable tube. Would like to see that in action
Surprised Trump hasn't waded in with some useful tweets...
What not even sending prayers?
Announcement expected in Thailand on rescue efforts. Looks like they may have to go for it before the rain turns up.
Terrifying, but it looks like they have no choice.
surely if there's boring needed then James Milner needs to be put of stand by. He could bore through anything.
https://twitter.com/BoringMilner?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
200m through rock. Surely that's within oil drilling capabilities?
Elon Musk has also suggested a huge inflatable tube.
He's sending engineers from his boring company to help with power issues and also to look at the possibility of using the tubes to get them out.
@theotherjonv - oil drilling tends to be less than a metre diameter. Yes, they've got within 200 metres but that's through passages of goodness knows what size and complexity, getting any large machinery to that point would be a gargantuan task.
Heavy duty inflatable tube would need air lock style entry and exits. From the graphic I've seen there are several flooded sections rather than one so it should be possible to shuttle the boys through. How much a sufficiently robust tube would restrict the squeeze even further would need to be considered.
Belgian media cite unconfirmed reports rescue mission will begin tonight
Belgium diver says: We expect that the first two footballers will still be at the exit today
Are they in a pocket if air or are they in dry cave.
Could drilling a hole into the chamber not cause an issue with the void filling with water if the air is under pressure?
Belgian media cite unconfirmed reports rescue mission will begin tonight
Belgium diver says: We expect that the first two footballers will still be at the exit today
Is that some kind of joke?
Could drilling a hole into the chamber not cause an issue with the void filling with water if the air is under pressure?
That is a possibility I guess.
Also not sure if the cave is further up from the water.
Is that some kind of joke?
No, the Belgium diver thinks that they will have the first two out by tonight. See the Guardian website
Can't see why you think it might be a joke.........
Thai authorities have now said that there will not be a rescue attaempt today
Press conference - no attempt tonight
The stuck lads have written letters for their loved ones......
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44748927
Can’t see why you think it might be a joke………
It was the line about "Belgium diver says: We expect that the first two footballers will still be at the exit today"
The rescue is underway... Here's hoping that they all make it
Is it the diving footballer bit that's causing the confusion?
Good to see the rescue underway. Good luck to all involved.
Good luck.
I’ve watched a few programs over the years and cave diving looks extremely perilous, terrifying to me.
The situation is horrible, I hope that they’ve had enough time to plan and organise properly without the weather squeezing their schedule too much. I really hope they have no more casualties.
Not just the pressure of retrieving the kids, but the worlds media are watching and critically analysing every move they make.
Jeeze, hope it all goes well.
The first two boys are out apparently, great news!
Brilliant! Fingers crossed.
Couldn't make this up, but have you seen the pic of the kid in the England shirt?
#hescominghome
4 more coming out soon apparently. Sod the World Cup, this is the best thing this weekend!
What odds on Putin taking advantage and making these kids his special guests at the final next weekend
No chance, Trump will want to adopt them.
What odds on Putin taking advantage and making these kids his special guests at the final next weekend
Fifa's president beat him to it on Friday
Six out now.
A senior member of the rescue medical team has reportedly told Reuters that six boys have now exited the Tham Luang cave complex.
I don't want to speak too soon but this is some kind of modern miracle , everything is against this really.
This is great news, keep em coming.