BREAKING NEWS New video shows boys in good spirits inside Tham Luang cave

[Jonathan Fairfield]

New video shows boys in good spirits inside Tham Luang cave

 

 

A day after they were located by British divers, new footage of the boys trapped inside the Tham Luang cave has been shared by the Thai Navy.

 

The minute long clip, shared on the Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page, showed the boys wrapped in space blankets to keep warm and being cared for by specialist navy doctors who are staying with the boys in the cave.

 

The boys, who appeared in good spirits, can be seen saying hello to the camera. Footage being shown on Thai Channel 3 on Wednesday morning also showed some of the boys receiving treatment to minor injuries to their feet. 

 

 

 

The footage was released as rescuers warned of the difficult task ahead in rescuing the boys from the cave.

 

Aged between 11 and 16, the boys and their 25-year-old coach went missing on June 23, after they set out to explore the caves in a forest park following a training session.

 

Rear Admiral Apakorn Yuukongkaew, commander of the SEALS unit, said rain was still a challenge but the boys would be taken out safely as soon as sufficient water could be pumped out of the cave.

 

"But if that doesn't work, with the seasonal rain, we'll do it another way," he told reporters.

 

"We have Plan 'A' and Plan 'B', and ultimately, everyone will return to their parents' embrace."

 

The 13 have been given a gel with high calorie and mineral content to sustain them while rescue plans are worked out.

 

 

Officials declined to say what plans 'A' and 'B' were, but said they aimed to bring the boys out the same way they had entered.

 

Options included teaching the group to use smaller diving apparatus and guiding them out of the caves, from which 120 million litres of water had been pumped continuously for 75 hours by Tuesday evening.

 

The SEALS tried to get phone lines into the cave to allow the boys to speak to parents and families staying at a nearby shelter throughout what could be Thailand's most high-profile rescue mission.

 

At the Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai, security personnel turned away scores of people who came to show support, while more journalists joined hundreds of media representatives who have covered the drama blow-by-blow.

 

Two British divers experienced in cave rescues, John Volanthen and Rick Stanton, were first to reach the boys, accompanied by the SEALS divers.

 

Their search targeted an elevated mound they believed could have provided a refuge, but that was already flooded, so they went 400 metres (1,312 ft) further, and found the team.

 

News of the discovery sparked jubilation among relatives and rescuers and spread swiftly enough to figure on the front pages of Tuesday's newspapers.

 

"Found the 13 'Wild Boars', safe and preparing to come out," was the headline in the country's biggest daily, Thai Rath.

 

Caricatures of smiling volunteers, rescue workers and media spread on social media and messaging platforms, applauding a search mission that involved citizens of Australia, Britain, China, Japan, Myanmar and the United States, among others.

 

"Take our hearts - thank you," read one cartoon, while another read "You are our heroes," followed by "Thank you," in eight languages.

 

Thais posted messages of joy and relief on Facebook, showering praise on Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn. "Have to applaud this man," said one, while another asked, "Why not try for prime minister?"

 

His deputy, Passakorn Bunyalak, dismissed rumours that the mission could last up to four months, but said the boys' safety was paramount and their extraction should not be rushed.

 

Sura Jeetwatee, a doctor involved in the operations, said the team survived by staying put and drinking water that dripped from stalactite formations.

 

SEALS commander Apakorn said the flow of a cave stream had slowed and water once at head level was now at shin level. He said the boys were in relatively good condition.

 

"The children have been in there for ten days, they have food, doctors – they are doing well," he said. "There is no rush."

 

Additional text from Reuters

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-07-04

[CelticBhoy]

Well done Bhoys! So glad to see they are all smiles.

 

[Somtamnication]

They look ok. Now the media needs to back off and let the team do their rescue.

[djjamie]

Their coach deserves a medal for looking after these kids in such challenging conditions. 

[yougivemebaby]

I hope there is no possibility of the area they are in to flood. But I suppose they have a back up plan for that..... Right?

[evadgib]

I'm surprised to see a rescuer among them in bare feet!

[bkk6060]

2 hours ago, djjamie said:

Their coach deserves a medal for looking after these kids in such challenging conditions. 

I agree but last I heard they want to prosecute him..

[chrisinth]

Rather surprised to see they haven't had a change of clothes yet.

 

Obviously some reason for that (besides the possible one that they haven't had the resources to bring the clothing through just yet).

 

Perhaps physiological?

[Thian]

1 hour ago, chrisinth said:

Rather surprised to see they haven't had a change of clothes yet.

 

Obviously some reason for that (besides the possible one that they haven't had the resources to bring the clothing through just yet).

 

Perhaps physiological?

I also wonder how hard it is to wade/dive to that cave where the boys are. Is that a long part of the trip? I guess so or they would just carry the boys home right now.

[chrisinth]

4 minutes ago, Thian said:

I also wonder how hard it is to wade/dive to that cave where the boys are. Is that a long part of the trip? I guess so or they would just carry the boys home right now.

They can bring food and medical gear through OK. As far as hygiene goes, I would have thought it would have been high on their list to get them cleaned and out of the old clothes.

 

I'm pretty sure after 11 days without proper sanitation they will be pretty ripe and home to a lot of bacteria.

[greenchair]

2 hours ago, yougivemebaby said:

I hope there is no possibility of the area they are in to flood. But I suppose they have a back up plan for that..... Right?

UM. 

They really don't know if the whole cave fills up when the real monsoons come in a few days or weeks. They thought pattaya beach would be dry, when in fact it was flooded. They are still in a great deal of danger once those rains start. 

[greenchair]

Was that the coach on the right. He looks quite sad and thin. Apparently he gave his food to the children. He really took good care of them and got them to the right place. Nature is fickle. He did a great job in a bad situation. He should get a medal. 

[Thian]

19 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

They can bring food and medical gear through OK. As far as hygiene goes, I would have thought it would have been high on their list to get them cleaned and out of the old clothes.

 

I'm pretty sure after 11 days without proper sanitation they will be pretty ripe and home to a lot of bacteria.

Here you can get a better impression about the route to pattaya beach, it's very hard.

 

They need some of these from Holland, not those babypumps

 

 

 

[Lampang2]

Rather surprised to see they haven't had a change of clothes yet.
 
Obviously some reason for that (besides the possible one that they haven't had the resources to bring the clothing through just yet).
 
Perhaps physiological?

Surprising to say the least.
Boys are skin and bone, but the seals are well dressed tough....
Playing around with iodine for the cameras instead of putting on socks and boots to stay warm and away from wear and tear.


Jackets, pants, boots and something on the head.

Conserve energy is important as food is "expensive" in that cave.

[Lampang2]

Was that the coach on the right. He looks quite sad and thin. Apparently he gave his food to the children. He really took good care of them and got them to the right place. Nature is fickle. He did a great job in a bad situation. He should get a medal. 

Or he could just stop being stupid and bring other peoples kids into caves during rain season.

Thats also an option.

[pegman]

35 minutes ago, greenchair said:

UM. 

They really don't know if the whole cave fills up when the real monsoons come in a few days or weeks. They thought pattaya beach would be dry, when in fact it was flooded. They are still in a great deal of danger once those rains start. 

It has to be a real concern as August gets 2x the rain as June in Mae Sai.

[greenchair]

8 minutes ago, Lampang2 said:

Or he could just stop being stupid and bring other peoples kids into caves during rain season.

Thats also an option.

I get tired of people calling Thais stupid everytime something goes wrong. He and his team adventured to the cave many times. Nature reared it's rageing head when they least expected it. 

It's like blaming everyone killed in the sunami for go to the beach. Nobody is to blame here. He is a hero. 

[Lampang2]

I get tired of people calling Thais stupid everytime something goes wrong. He and his team adventured to the cave many times. Nature reared it's rageing head when they least expected it. 
It's like blaming everyone killed in the sunami for go to the beach. Nobody is to blame here. He is a hero. 

Except that tsunamis are not seasonal phenomenas

[greenchair]

3 minutes ago, pegman said:

It has to be a real concern as August gets 2x the rain as June in Mae Sai.

It is a race against time. And the rains are early this year. 

[greenchair]

Just now, Lampang2 said:

Except that tsunamis are not seasonal phenomenas

The rains started early this year. 

It wasn't raining when they went in. The cave was dry. 

There must have been a sudden heavy downpour. 

They could not have predicted it. 

[Lampang2]

It is a race against time. And the rains are early this year. 

Don't know about chiang rai area but Lampang has been raining a lot for at least a month now.

Not so far away from CR.

[webfact]

Parents in tears watching Navy SEALS video of boys

By The Nation

 

 

Parents of the boys trapped in the Chiang Rai cave shed tears of joy and relief on Wednesday morning as they watched a video of them being treated for minor injuries.

 

The Royal Thai Navy SEALS shot the video and posted it on their “ThaiSEAL” Facebook page, showing the 12 boys noticeably thinner and looking exhausted.

 

But the boys swaddled in silvery blankets proclaim themselves in good health in the clip.

 

Their parents watched the video while they were waiting to talk to the boys via a specially rigged phone system.

They reaffirmed their love for the children and said they were forgiven for going astray, since none of them could have expected the June 23 cave excursion would turn into a nail-biting 10-day drama, with no clear end yet in sight.

 

“We miss them and want to see them get out very soon,” one parent said as the video played. “They look thinner, but we’re happy they’re safe.”

 

The parents thanked all of the officials and volunteers engaged in the rescue mission – and “all people of Thailand”.

 

The boys and their football coach received medical aid on Tuesday from a team that included Army doctor Colonel Pak Loharachun, commander of the Medical Battalion at Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

The 13 footballers were trapped in Tham Luang Cave for 10 days before being found safe on Monday night. Officials are now pondering means to extract them safely.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349290

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-04

[Lampang2]

The rains started early this year. 
It wasn't raining when they went in. The cave was dry. 
There must have been a sudden heavy downpour. 
They could not have predicted it. 

No point arguing with people that do not forsee rain in the rain season.

We clearly live in parallel worlds.

[greenchair]

50 minutes ago, Lampang2 said:

No point arguing with people that do not forsee rain in the rain season.

We clearly live in parallel worlds.

The rainy season starts in July. 

[greenchair]

1 hour ago, Lampang2 said:

Except that tsunamis are not seasonal phenomenas

Well do people stop going to the beach everytime there's an earthquake? 

[holy cow cm]

4 hours ago, yougivemebaby said:

I hope there is no possibility of the area they are in to flood. But I suppose they have a back up plan for that..... Right?

Just what I have been thinking since saw the cave.

[Antonymous]

40 minutes ago, greenchair said:

The rainy season starts in July. 

Not in Chiang Mai and everyone who lives here has been well aware of the heavy rainfall this year since May.

 

Average rainfall (mm)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bangkok	11	28	31	72	190	152	158	187	320	231	57	9
Chiang Mai	8	6	15	45	153	136	167	227	251	132	44	15
Ko Samui	144	33	51	86	158	93	131	106	113	266	526	213
Pattaya	19	14	52	67	177	79	77	91	202	249	134	4
Phuket	42	30	60	157	345	286	284	272	417	351	188	71

Statistics from Thai Meteorological Department

[Emster23]

These boys have been subjected to years of Thai education. Being isolated in a dark cave might even feel familiar. Piece of cake.

[Just Weird]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I agree but last I heard they want to prosecute him..

I'd be really interesting to see the link that confirms that.  Nowhere has is been confirmed that "they" want to prosecute him, rather that was denied.

[bkk6060]

9 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

I'd be really interesting to see the link that confirms that.  Nowhere has is been confirmed that "they" want to prosecute him, rather that was denied.

OK, I hope so.