Heroes one and all: Thai media hails seven British divers key in cave rescue

 

 

Thai media Sanook published a picture and details of the seven British divers who were key in the successful cave rescue. 

 

They said all the men had shown exceptional courage and expertise in their actions.

 

First on the scene was Vernon Unsworth who contacted the Thai authorities to allow his friends into the country to help. 

 

John Volanthan from Bristol and Rick Stanton, 56, a former fireman followed thereafter. These two brave men were the first divers to reach the 12 boys and their coach perched up above the floodwaters deep inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai. 

 

Robert Harper from Somerset aged 70 aided them and has since returned back to the UK after being heralded by tourism minister Weerasak Kowsurat last week. 

 

A further three men helped with the evacuation itself. These were Chris Jewell, Jason Malison and Tim Acton. Mr Malison once helped six British servicemen escape a cave in Mexico. 

 

Mr Acton, 39, was invited by the Thai Navy Seals. He has lived in Thailand for 12 years, said Sanook. 

 

Source: https://www.sanook.com/news/7128794/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-7-10

Cheers to each and every one of them.

The real heroes

The world, and posters here have been gripped by this story for the last 18 days, moved with each new thing to unfold. Thankfully there have been no shortage of heroes, especially these guys, ready to risk life and limb to come to the now successful rescue.

I cannot imagine what it must have been like for the families of the kids and the coach trapped, or what hell the boys themselves went through, especially before they were found, wondering if they were going to die in the dark, hungry, cold and afraid.

Today is a day of celebration, in the unity of mankind from many nations who have assisted in this amazing escape from death. Still, there is tragedy, as in the very sad demise of former SEAL diver Samarn Kunan. I hope his family can find solace in knowing he died a hero.

A memorial to his bravery and the rest of those who went where most of us would be way too scared to go, should be set up at the site, so he can be remembered always.

And the little wild boars? Congratulations on being given a second lease of life. I hope they will all appreciate the huge effort that went into finding and then rescuing them and take that new life opportunity with both hands, and go on to be the best people that they can be and never forget what it is to be there for others in need. Hooyah!

I was loosing hope in humanity with the evil of politicians around the World who are like pigs at the trough .This has restored my belief in Human goodness  at the basic level .Most Politicians remain evil forces in my opinion ,who have sold their soul for money.

Well done lads. And all the other international and Thai teams involved in this great operation.

 

Nice to see the Brits recognised for their input, though this is an effort that should be widely shared among the many nations that contributed. Awesome work, even more awesome outcome. ten days ago many assumed they were dead. It seems you cant write the boars off before the final whistle.

My special thanks go out to Vernon Unsworth! He chose to take action while being at the right place in time. And though they succeeded all the way through! Hat's off!

And also to the governor for a flawless job in coordinating and accepting the help from all directions, Thai and international!

 

All out hearts and thoughts have been with those brave boys, that's for sure, and anyone with a healthy brain and heart is glad they made it.

 

great job guys and of course to everyone involved, truly inspiring. with regards the brit contingent, little off topic but the last england game i was wearing my england shirt and where i live people were giving big smiles in the street, some coming up and shaking my hand. in the bank, where they know me, they were even coming to the desk i was at and saying thank you and good luck in the world cup. i just said i had nothing to do with it but thank you. now, it wasn't the football top that was getting that reaction it was the action of the first brits that located the team. again well done to all involved and of course RIP Samarn Kunan and i trust the family is well taken care of as promised

I just hope they can make it to Moscow to see England beat France. ???

Hope the government take very careful note of just how good brave and caring some expats and farangs can be alter their course in a timely manner to all the people that live here 3 cheers for the boys and RIP to one brave man. 

11 minutes ago, DanaDeLuxe said:

My special thanks go out to Vernon Unsworth! He chose to take action while being at the right place in time. And though they succeeded all the way through! Hat's off!

And also to the governor for a flawless job in coordinating and accepting the help from all directions, Thai and international!

 

The invite as it's been reported was more of a plea for help.lets not try and play it down and try to save face.as for accepting help,I don't think there was much choice.if the Thai seals were capable of doing the rescue do you think they would of pleaded for international help? As for the guvonor coordinating,youve got to be joking.

I think its a British trait to help people who are in trouble but its rarely mentioned, part of our make up. I am pleased we turned up and that it all turned out well in the end. but we must not forget it was an international group as well that made great team effort and I don't forget that that the Thais released they needed help and realized that they needed help and were not backward in asking for it, so all round a big well done, the bar is open late tonight you all deserve it.

Going on I hope that the danger has been released that the authorities ask each province to list their caves and all be mapped for the future should anything like this happen again.

23 minutes ago, DanaDeLuxe said:

And also to the governor for a flawless job in coordinating and accepting the help from all directions, Thai and international!

Yes.  One of the best examples I have ever seen of a local government official rising to the occasion and showing grace under fire. 

No finger pointing, no grandstanding and a willingness to listen to suggestions.  Most of all, he never wavered from his primary commitment:  the well being of the boys, never allowing himself to be pressured into hasty and ill-considered  measures.

As DanaDelux pointed out, his willingness to accept outside help and advice certainly played a major role in the successful outcome of this long drama and in no way diminishes the amazing work and contribution of Thai officials and volunteers, including the Navy Seals.

It really was a shared victory and a job well done by all. 

This is the most unified Thailand has been as a nation in a long time.

 

5 minutes ago, vogie said:

I just hope they can make it to Moscow to see England beat France. ???

although seemingly unlikely, i really do wish they were able to get the all clear from the hospital to go to the final, would be a perfect ending (well sort of ending) to what must have been a very traumatic few weeks for the team

Make that a big screen near their homes for all of them and their friends and a free flow of Pad Krapao Moo and KFC!

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

The world, and posters here have been gripped by this story for the last 18 days, moved with each new thing to unfold. Thankfully there have been no shortage of heroes, especially these guys, ready to risk life and limb to come to the now successful rescue.

 

I cannot imagine what it must have been like for the families of the kids and the coach trapped, or what hell the boys themselves went through, especially before they were found, wondering if they were going to die in the dark, hungry, cold and afraid.

 

Today is a day of celebration, in the unity of mankind from many nations who have assisted in this amazing escape from death. Still, there is tragedy, as in the very sad demise of former SEAL diver Samarn Kunan. I hope his family can find solace in knowing he died a hero.

 

A memorial to his bravery and the rest of those who went where most of us would be way too scared to go, should be set up at the site, so he can be remembered always.

 

And the little wild boars? Congratulations on being given a second lease of life. I hope they will all appreciate the huge effort that went into finding and then rescuing them and take that new life opportunity with both hands, and go on to be the best people that they can be and never forget what it is to be there for others in need. Hooyah!

 

http://www.caverescue.org.uk/

Their 'donate' button works ?

37 minutes ago, Happy enough said:

although seemingly unlikely, i really do wish they were able to get the all clear from the hospital to go to the final, would be a perfect ending (well sort of ending) to what must have been a very traumatic few weeks for the team

 

31 minutes ago, DanaDeLuxe said:

Make that a big screen near their homes for all of them and their friends and a free flow of Pad Krapao Moo and KFC!

Why not do both to some degree? Set up a welcome home party for them and screen it into the World Cup Final pre-match show. The kids will feel part of it and it will reach out to the world. Apparently they have been invited to Man Utd anyway, so this would be a great ending to a riveting show, while they fully recover. Being from humble backgrounds though, they might want to just be themselves and play football on the local park and not think about any of it, ever again. I wouldn't want to pay that price for being a celebrity.

2 hours ago, Get Real said:

The real heroes

all heroes, was a joint effort......were thousands involved in this rescue

Nice to see Thais acknowledging Farangs can be useful from time to time. 

2 hours ago, DanaDeLuxe said:

Make that a big screen near their homes for all of them and their friends and a free flow of Pad Krapao Moo and KFC!

I like this big screen idea much better for them than travelling off to Russia. Make it a village celebration of renewed life thanks to world cooperation.

15 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Nice to see Thais acknowledging Farangs can be useful from time to time. 

 

 

+1

17 minutes ago, neeray said:

I like this big screen idea much better for them than travelling off to Russia. Make it a village celebration of renewed life thanks to world cooperation.

And tickets to Qatar 2022 but only if they stop visiting caves

2 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

 

Why not do both to some degree? Set up a welcome home party for them and screen it into the World Cup Final pre-match show. The kids will feel part of it and it will reach out to the world. Apparently they have been invited to Man Utd anyway, so this would be a great ending to a riveting show, while they fully recover. Being from humble backgrounds though, they might want to just be themselves and play football on the local park and not think about any of it, ever again. I wouldn't want to pay that price for being a celebrity.

mate, it's not about them being a celebrity. those kids would bloody jump at the chance to see a world cup final or go to a big club like man u. they'll still get back to their park either way. they are going to mini celebs at home anyway whether they like it or not.

1 minute ago, Happy enough said:

mate, it's not about them being a celebrity. those kids would bloody jump at the chance to see a world cup final or go to a big club like man u. they'll still get back to their park either way. they are going to mini celebs at home anyway whether they like it or not.

Until the Thai government gives the stateless boys the Thai nationality and a passport, most of these rescued kids aren't going anywhere outside of the province. 

2 minutes ago, Gulfsailor said:

Until the Thai government gives the stateless boys the Thai nationality and a passport, most of these rescued kids aren't going anywhere outside of the province. 

i realise that and i know that if they were healthy enough they would get what they need to get there

 

3 hours ago, Happy enough said:

although seemingly unlikely, i really do wish they were able to get the all clear from the hospital to go to the final, would be a perfect ending (well sort of ending) to what must have been a very traumatic few weeks for the team

The need to keep them in hospital for a week or so has been announced already, this might help to avoid a much more awkward conversation as to why it would be impossible for them to go right now. Namely that several of the kids are from hilltribes without even citizenship, let alone passports (which it's unlikely even the Thai boys would have). 

3 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

The need to keep them in hospital for a week or so has been announced already, this might help to avoid a much more awkward conversation as to why it would be impossible for them to go right now. Namely that several of the kids are from hilltribes without even citizenship, let alone passports (which it's unlikely even the Thai boys would have). 

As much as I wish you were wrong, I think you may be absolutely correct.

6 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

The need to keep them in hospital for a week or so has been announced already, this might help to avoid a much more awkward conversation as to why it would be impossible for them to go right now. Namely that several of the kids are from hilltribes without even citizenship, let alone passports (which it's unlikely even the Thai boys would have). 

i realize that, it has been stated many times. i have been following the news. but i can assure you if they were healthy enough and the hospital turns and said actually they are OK to travel they would get what they need from the countries involved to get them there