Wonderful, wonderful news. A truly joyous occasion. I must admit that I had not expected this very positive outcome (against all the odds). I am filled with happiness and relief - and not without a tear in my eye after watching the moving video of the moment when the young people were found. Fantastic news indeed!

 

I became emotional after hearing this on Al Jazeera this morning! 

18 minutes ago, bannork said:

I can definitely use this story to encourage my students to learn English.

' Students , you never know when you're going to need English in Thailand. You could be stuck down a cave in the dark for nine days when all of a sudden a British rescue worker turns up. Now what should you say?'

Yes, I thought that. 

Wasn't it great that their first words to the outside world were in English. 

You never know when you might need English will be my motto also. 

We had discussion last Saturday about these boys. I can't wait to talk with my kids and tell them that the boys spoke English to a couple of the rescuers. 

A movie should be in the pipeline.  Hope they have copyright to their  ordeals.  At least any decent movie script writer or producer should pay them something to share their experience inside the cave.  This will be a good lesson for all those adventure thrill seekers to think twice before going unprepared for any trip. 

This is fantastic and very good news.  Thanks to all rescuers for their never-ending support!!

Earlier sources said that British divers were the first to find them......

1 hour ago, greenchair said:

I am glad to say that I am ashamed that I had given up on day 7.

Who would think that 13 people could get that far. 

The coach is a hero. He obviously did all the right things. 

It's not over yet. Now they have to get them out before the monsoon rains start. 

Amazing. a miracle. 

Well done to the brit that went further and found them. Well done thailand. 

Really nice to hear your comment about giving up, well done.

There should be couple of others who should join you, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting. 

Great News,now they have them and know there location, the best way to get them out maybe by drilling down a shaft, like the Chilean miners rescue. I believe it is not so deep and soft rock. Please do not let any harm come  to them now after what they have been through.

I can say that been underground without food, no way out and very limited light is a frightening and eerie thing, I was in Coal mining for 15 years and believe me they have been through a very bad trauma. God bless all involved, now safely extract them from that hell. 

6 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thai rescue teams find 13 missing in cave alive

Journalists try to interview a military officer near the Tham Luang cave complex, as members of an under-16 soccer team and their coach have been found alive, according to a local media's report, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand, July 2, 2018. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Twelve boys and their assistant soccer coach have been found alive by rescuers inside a Thai cave complex nine days after they went missing, Chiang Rai province's governor said on Monday.

 

The boys, aged between 11 and 16, went missing with the 25-year-old coach after soccer practice on June 23 after they set out to explore the Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai.

 

A massive international rescue effort has been under way since, with rescue teams battling through thick mud and high water to try to reach the group.

 

"Thai Navy seals have found all 13 with signs of life," Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters.

 

Rescuers had been working on Monday to clear a constricted passageway for divers deep inside the flooded cave complex in a search operation that has been hampered by heavy rain.

 

Divers from Thailand's elite navy SEAL unit had been focusing on an elevated mound inside the cave which cavers have named "Pattaya Beach", which could have provided the boys with a refuge when rains flooded the cave.

 

"The SEALs reported that ... they reached Pattaya Beach which was flooded. So they went 400 metres further where we found the 13 ... who were safe," Narongsak told the cheering group of reporters.

 

The next challenge will be getting the group out of the cave, which some have dubbed a "labyrinth".

 

Rescuers had discussed waiting until water levels subsided to get the boys out. Other options included teaching the group to use diving gear to navigate the flooded cave.

 

Medical teams were seen preparing first aid kits after news of the group's discovery broke outside the cave's entrance.

 

Relatives of the boys took shelter from heavy rain on Monday and were seen cheering, smiling and receiving calls after receiving the news.

 

Rescuers shook hands and congratulated each other as occasional cheers broke out.

 

It remains unclear whether any of the group are injured or in need of medical attention.

 

Narongsak said medical teams have been sent inside the cave and it would take them around four hours to assess the group's health and how fit they are before coming up with a strategy to get them out.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Chayut Setboonsarng; Additional reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Andrew Roche and Alison Williams)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-03

 

THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS!

 

The main thing is that the boys were found alive.  Great news for the family and a fantastic effort by everyone involved, but most of all congratulations to the Brits who had the idea to go in from another cave entrance because clearly going in through the main chamber was proving impossible.  Credit where credit is due.

Thank you Heavenly Father for answering the millions of prayers for the safe return of these young people. Praise God.

22 minutes ago, JerseytoBKK said:

GREAT NEWS!

 

These 2 British divers are among the very best in the world at cave diving and rescues. They were in the lead because of the their vast experience and they were using highly specialized equipment. Even with all the support from the Thai Navy divers, look at how long it took them. This was a very difficult rescue and many many people contributed. Congratulations to all who helped!

At last , someone has put it into perspective and recognized that the team of 3 Brits brought with them special skills and unique equipment  ,kudos was not involved or sought on their part . It has to be said that the headlines mentioned only the Thai seals and for that reason the record needs to be put straight , brownie points out of the question . That was the first part of the rescue but now there maybe a race against time as heavy rains are forecast . The Brit trio are the most experienced cave rescuers in the world and with the help of top seal divers I am sure that there will be a  successful conclusion . 

    It was indeed a massive effort from all involved who toiled tirelessly 24 hours a day ,  all of them heroes . 

6 hours ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

Good to know. Yet not a single mention in the Thai English news reports of the contribution of American, Australian and British experts. A little more credit ought to spread around.

It didn’t take long, only 29 comments before the first idiot decided to engage fingers in keyboard before brain. These rescue guys are all heroes but they don’t see themselves like that. It doesn’t matter which nationalities where involved or who found them it wasn’t a competition. 

Congratulations to the everyone involved from the divers right down to the people supplying them with food, water etc during this tough time. Hopefully the government will ensure the young boys and their families receive the medical and psychological help they need. 

 

Very good news and congratulations to the people who helped: no food, ok , stress, ok, everything horrible, but nine days in darkness, for me it would the most difficult thing to endure; one of the boy asked " which day are we ?"; to loose  notion of time is inhuman 

A troll post has been removed.

 

9) You will not post inflammatory messages on the forum, or attempt to disrupt discussions to upset its participants, or trolling. Trolling can be defined as the act of purposefully antagonizing other people on the internet by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

 

7 hours ago, SneekyPete said:

Amazing. One can only imagine how the families feel. Medals all round to the rescuers and all volunteers.

 

6 hours ago, rtr4 said:

Tears of joy overcome me. What was the medium saying?

 

6 hours ago, wanderluster said:

fantastic news...  great on the person /people who decided that pattaya beach was the best spot. ok they had moved 400m from that but it was the right way to go.  If the news is right that a team of SEALS went beyond where they were supposed to go, to find these kids, kudos to them.. but rumor not proved true yet.

 

true heros to all that gave their all to help in this situation.  And even more so to the boys and their coach for maintaining their cool and doing what was nessicary to just stay alive and not panick.

 

hope you all get rewarded as you deserve

Glory..Glory Hallelujah ...  Prayers have been answered..Tears of Joy & Happiness

7 hours ago, Krungbin said:

This is GREAT news! Fabulous for them all and their families and friends! And...congratulations and thanks to all those who helped finding and rescuing them!

Glory..Glory Hallelujah ...  Prayers have been answered..Tears of Joy & Happiness

One of the guys that found them has an MBE, surely both of them now deserve knighthoods for their superhuman efforts to find these kids.

 

I am so pleased for the families, I have been thinking of them every day, what they must have been through can only be imagined.

 

Tears of joy in my household this morning

I eat my words from my posting yesterday. What a great result!

 

It just goes to show how we humans can pull together regardless of our creed and nationality, and how barriers can come down so that we can all co-exist in a more positive and rewarding manner.

 

Great job and thanks to all,  not forgetting the British team who were accompanied by the Thai Navy Seals, and requested to assist with the search by the Thai authorities plus the fact that the first voice heard by the lost party was that of a British man, not a Thai.

 

Praises should not have been placed solely on the shoulders of the Thai Navy Seals...

 

But will a lesson be learn from this event?  One thing is for sure, it goes to show how people can pull together, but will It change the carefree attitude of Thais with regard to racism, health and safety????

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Stellar!

Thank Gd.. Awesome job by all the rescuers...

2 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Miracles really do happen. 

No they don't.  This was just hard work.

Another troll post and answer to it have been removed.

 

Keep this up but be aware of the consequences that await you.

6 hours ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

Good to know. Yet not a single mention in the Thai English news reports of the contribution of American, Australian and British experts. A little more credit ought to spread around.

Nonsense, they were thanked by everyone. You're forgetting some nationalities present BTW.

Great news, well done...

 

2 minutes ago, ThaiWai said:

Another genius who thanks god not the rescuers but forgets god put them their in the first place.  Prayers my butt.

Different people have different beliefs. Show some respect..

3 minutes ago, Sonhia said:

I eat my words from my posting yesterday. What a great result!

 

It just goes to show how we humans can pull together regardless of our creed and nationality, and how barriers can come down so that we can all co-exist in a more positive and rewarding manner.

 

Great job and thanks to all,  not forgetting the British team who were accompanied by the Thai Navy Seals, and requested to assist with the search by the Thai authorities plus the fact that the first voice heard by the lost party was that of a British man, not a Thai.

 

Praises should not have been placed solely on the shoulders of the Thai Navy Seals...

 

But will a lesson be learn from this event?  One thing is for sure, it goes to show how people can pull together, but will It change the carefree attitude of Thais with regard to racism, health and safety????

The Thai Seals posted the video on their Facebook page. Right now over 8.5 million views. So lots of people learning what happened but it was a team effort. Really BIG TEAM. The Seals undoubtedly have the utmost respect for the expertise and capabilities of the British divers which is probably why they posted the video instead of just still pictures. The politicians maybe slow to come around.