Boys continue diving training as concerns over health emerge

By The Nation

 

 

ALL 12 BOYS and their football coach will remain trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave this weekend, judging by all the latest indicators at press time.

Although they were found alive on Monday, there has not yet been any completely safe way for them to leave. Any move from here until the team has fully exited will have to be made very carefully, after a former SEAL died in the cave operation early Friday. 

 

Rough conditions inside the cave include cold, darkness, thin air and floodwaters. 

 

An assistant football coach of the Mu Pa Academy Mae Sai led 12 young footballers into the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province on June 23. But flash floods hit that day, forcing them to find a dry spot to await rescue. 

 

They have since been trapped on a muddy shelf at Noen Nom Sao, which is about five kilometres from the mouth of the cave. Though relatively healthy, the survivors have already spent two weeks inside the inhospitable cave, and some remain exhausted.

 

Their location is dry, but not large enough for them to move around comfortably. 

 

When nature calls, they must relieve themselves in the cramped confines. Hygiene is among the issues they must cope with – others being stress and the absence of sunlight.

 

Sources say three of the 13, including the football coach, are showing signs of infection, confirming health experts’ concerns about bacteria, viruses and fungi in the cave. 

 

Medics with diving skills and SEALs are now on the front line. 

 

Some are staying with the 13, and working to develop the team’s swimming and diving skills.

 

Quickly developing a competence in those skills could mean the difference between life and death, if decision-makers call for an immediate evacuation through the flooded sections of the cave. If they can get out soon enough, they will be able to watch the final match of World Cup 2018 after Fifa president Gianni Infantino extended them an invitation. 

 

While some other evacuation options are still being considered, the 5-km journey – that will include diving and swimming in floodwater in addition to hiking and climbing – will be necessary if heavy downpours return and raise the water levels inside the cave.

 

However, for as long as the floodwater levels continue to decrease, the authorities intend to keep the team safe right where they are and continue building their skills for the eventual evacuation.

 

A one-week food supply has already been brought to Noen Nom Sao, along with diving gear. Even with SEAL escorts through the passages, the footballers will have to swim and dive on their own at some points. 

 

The all-out rescue effort at the cave, which includes international help, has already claimed one life.

 

Ex-SEAL Petty Officer First-class Samarn Kunun, 38, collapsed at about 1am on Friday after installing oxygen tanks along the passage between the third chamber of the cave and the T-junction, which is still heavily flooded.

 

He drowned and even though his buddy rushed to his help, it was not possible to revive him. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn granted water for Samarn’s bathing rites, which took place at the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province on Friday evening.

 

The Royal Thai Navy is also planning to offer help and benefits to Samarn’s family. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349503

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-07

 

 

Other earlier unconfirmed reports stated that some unregistered volunteer "helpers" had inadvertently pumped water back into the cave. If that were to be true I expect it would not have helped the situation.

Even if they get out before the 15th of July I cannot see them take advantage of the free offer by FIFA to fly them all to Russis to watch the world cup final. I hope the kids have not been made aware of this offer. 

Health and immune issues taking a front row seat. Plainly time to take them out now. 

Health and immune issues taking a front row seat. Plainly time to take them out now. 

The time to take them out is when the cave diving experts say it is safe and not before.


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Do a dry run with one of the fittest older boys first. That would be the best way to find out if the dive option is feasible for the main group.

This is looking more and more nasty. Being trapped in a cave is not a good place to get a serious infection. Rather than building up their strength for a possible swim, they may be doing the opposite and losing strength by the minute. With each passing day and new drama, the necessity to get them out grows. I don't see a 4 month option being tenable.

41 minutes ago, djjamie said:

Even if they get out before the 15th of July I cannot see them take advantage of the free offer by FIFA to fly them all to Russis to watch the world cup final. I hope the kids have not been made aware of this offer. 

I agree with you....was really shocked by the timing involved. If they are out in time they will be recovering with their families. If the kids were told it would just add additional pressure to a bad situation.

12 minutes ago, pegman said:

Do a dry run with one of the fittest older boys first. That would be the best way to find out if the dive option is feasible for the main group.

Yes.  Similar to a few years ago when they rescued those south american miners that had been trapped deep underground for weeks.  When the rescuers finally got to them through that mine shaft they dug, they put the strongest man in first.  You want a stable strong person in there in case something goes wrong.

A rescue diver says the easiest way to get the Thai soccer team out of the cave is to drug them

http://www.businessinsider.com/thai-cave-diver-says-easiest-way-to-get-soccer-team-out-is-drug-them-2018-7?amp%3Butm_medium=referral

Do a dry run with one of the fittest older boys first. That would be the best way to find out if the dive option is feasible for the main group.

It would also (hopefully) give everyone especially the other boys, hope and a positive ‘glow’


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54 minutes ago, DILLIGAD said:

The time to take them out is when the cave diving experts say it is safe and not before.


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Well the safe bit time is just about up 

I think that they think the water level is going to stay the same 

It is only going to get more unsafe as they will be totally under water all the way if they happen to have the 26 divers at hand. Because once the full on rains come I don't think those divers will get back in

51 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I don't see a 4 month option being tenable.

I do, because if they don't act that's exactly what might happen

30 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

A rescue diver says the easiest way to get the Thai soccer team out of the cave is to drug them

http://www.businessinsider.com/thai-cave-diver-says-easiest-way-to-get-soccer-team-out-is-drug-them-2018-7?amp%3Butm_medium=referral

I think it makes a lot of sense on a diver point of view at least

Indeed, the major risk is an unskilled panicking kid, and that environment makes that scenario very likely

 

Now, only medics could decide if, given their weak physical condition, it would be safe enough

 

This is all about balancing risks of very different nature. No exact science here

Doesn't look like they are going to have much choice.  I think they are going to try and get them out in the next couple of days. (Not a prediction, just a guess) If not, they are just going to get weaker from no exercise or decent food.  

Just the fact that they are on a muddy shelf means that the whole cave, during certain rainy conditions, completely floods. Pray for a break in the rain cycle or do the mexican miner thing and drill a shaft from above wide enough for them to be evacuated.

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

Other earlier unconfirmed reports stated that some unregistered volunteer "helpers" had inadvertently pumped water back into the cave. If that were to be true I expect it would not have helped the situation.

" If that were to be true I expect it would not have helped the situation."  Brilliant deduction.

Ask the monk to do something, surely that will fix the situation 

A terrible situation for all. But only those in-charge with specialist advice (some of that may be conflicting) can make the decision.

 

Get them out now, if they can, and risk some loss of life, or leave them in the cave for a longer period of time and still risk some loss of life. 

 

Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Finger pointing and blame will happen , either way. 

 

Maybe the King can make the decision on advice of the Government because he will be immune (I think/hope) from any repercussions.

1 hour ago, pegman said:

Do a dry run with one of the fittest older boys first. That would be the best way to find out if the dive option is feasible for the main group.

I partly agree, but were he to perish in the attempt, the morale deficit would seriously jeopardize any chance of success for the rest. Besides, they will need the fittest to inspire/lead/pull the less well-equipped through.

 

There simply is no “right way” to do this. However, some ways still seem “wronger” than others. If at all possible, they need to move them to a better-suited chamber, then resign themselves to being “rescued in place.”

 

It’s gonna be a wet and unforgiving rainy season, so even at that there will likely be casualties if they can’t find an efficient way to get air in and refuse out. Godspeed to everyone involved.  

I personally feel they now have a 2 day window to get them out. If the heavy rain starts its possible they may lose them all by leaving them there and there is no time to start any form of drilling.

 

I am so glad its not me making this decision because imo the odds of getting them all out alive are not good but if they can get most of them out alive that may be the best option to take in the end.

 

Just a really terrible situation for everyone involved.

2 hours ago, DILLIGAD said:

The time to take them out is when the cave diving experts say it is safe and not before.


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That is the problem. to many Experts!

 

When they get to the difficult parts of the cave can't divers in front just pull the boys through with ropes, so they don't have to swim.

2 hours ago, Cadbury said:

Other earlier unconfirmed reports stated that some unregistered volunteer "helpers" had inadvertently pumped water back into the cave. If that were to be true I expect it would not have helped the situation.

Yes it did happen but not for long, overall didnt make much difference.Watching BBC live at the scene a new pump out of Japan, and huge, is increasing the flow out but the whole mountain is a myriad of natural springs a swell as streams. I rescuer per boy,buddy system, and a chain of divers along the route maybe the system used. Another 4 mths in there they will be mentally damaged I would have thought

Who would want to make that decision? The outcome is binary - hero or villain ... let's hope they get it right.

3 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

Who would want to make that decision? The outcome is binary - hero or villain ... let's hope they get it right.

As time marches on, I would think it is going to be more 'villain' than 'hero' for the decision maker. 

I wouldn't think that the 'rescuers' or the Thai authorities at the site are reading this forum. So need to worry. 

I would have thought it much more logical to find alternative exits from the inside of the cave. rather than the top down

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

Just the fact that they are on a muddy shelf means that the whole cave, during certain rainy conditions, completely floods. Pray for a break in the rain cycle or do the mexican miner thing and drill a shaft from above wide enough for them to be evacuated.

I don't think the fact that it's a muddy floor tells you necessarily that it floods every year. There is water dripping down onto it from above, that's what the boys drank for 10 days. But the fact that the cave is there at all probably means it floods in some years.

 

You're probably referring to the Chilean miner rescue in 2010.

That is the problem. to many Experts!
 

Strong leadership giving clear and concise well-thought-out instructions are not a strong point here.
I hope this is resolved ASAP


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