Diver describes 'massive relief' finding trapped Thai boys in cave

 

File photo : Stanton//AFP

 

London - The British diver who found 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped alive in a flooded cave has described his "massive relief" as he counted them one by one, in what he called an unprecedented rescue operation.

 

Richard Stanton, one of a pair of British caving experts who located the "Wild Boars" team, gave reporters Friday a first-hand account of the moment he saw the boys emerge from behind a rock face onto a muddy ledge kilometres (miles) inside the Tham Luang cave.

 

 "That was a massive, massive relief. Initially we weren't certain they were all alive -- as they were coming down I was counting them until I got to 13," he said.

 

 "We couldn't see them initially -- they had to come round the corner."

 

The discovery prompted the stunning rescue of the boys which captivated Thailand and the world, with the final members finally emerging safely Tuesday after 18 days underground.

 

In order to rescue the boys, divers had to contend with a treacherous escape route made up of narrow, water-filled tunnels, with the threat of heavy rain injecting urgency to the bid.

 

The mission was "an order of difficulty much higher than anything that's been accomplished anywhere around the world by any other cave diving team," said Stanton.

 

Footage of the moment Stanton and John Volanthen discovered the 12 dishevelled and emaciated boys was viewed millions of times after it was posted on the official Facebook page of Thai Navy SEAL, prompting hope for their rescue.

 

"You hear on the video, John said 'How many?'," Stanton said. "I'd already counted them, they were already there."

 

Fellow diver Chris Jewell provided new details of the operation, describing how Thai authorities had diverted rivers on the mountaintop to help control water levels in the cave.

 

The measure "brought us additional time to get this outcome," Jewell said.

 

Stanton rejected suggestions the divers were heroes.

 

"We were just using a very, very unique skill set which we normally use for our own interest," he said. "Sometimes we are able to use that to give something back to the community and that's what we did."

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30350020

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-7-13

 

Quote: "We were just using a very, very unique skill set which we normally use for our own interest"

 

......... Plus a heap of bravery and determination wrapped up with some refreshing modesty.

The James Bond theme from the spy who loved me jumps to mind, and it’s very appropriate.

The more i read and the more i here of these people talking the more I realise what a great pack of guys they are and were. If it wasn’t for people like him and his compatriots we might as well have filled the entrance with a few truck loads of dirt and planted a black cross.I am sorry if that is a bit too

 

explicit for some of you but i just feel that if there were not people around like them then this sort of life saving ecapades would never take place and the world would be a sorry place without them. I have shed a lot of tears during the last few weeks over the fate of those boys and I’m not kidding about that. I am even writing this with watery eyes so all I want to say now is God bless you and your mates for your dedication which brought about such a successful conclusion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your unselfishness in putting your own life at risk to save others,and thnk you for bringing to me the realism of what you and your mates do for others and probably never make any news or headlines and you just consider these things to be all in a days work.Again——— God bless you and thank you, Dougal 

A fantastic outcome, from all that were involved, they're all brave 

heroes for what they did.

Lets not forget, that sadly one Thai diver lost his life due to his bravery and willingness to help in the rescue, may God bless his soul. RIP. 

A very unique skill set indeed... very few open water divers have the talent or nerve to enter a cave and dive in the best of times,

the conditions however in this situation were extreme to say the least...

a passion for what they do for a hobby and the willingness to put that to good use to help others around the world when the time calls for it!

These guys stepped up, with compassion & modesty, not seeking fame or recognition.. just get the boys out alive & go home!!

Enjoy a pint at home boy's.. you've earnt it !!!!!

 

fantastic team work by the foreign rescue teams as well as hundreds of thais who put every effort into the rescue. Its truely heart warming to see. Thanks to the farmers who left their fields flood as well, I hope the government compensate them as well.

It's beginning to emerge how they actually did it. The BBC interviewed John last night. The more you see and read the more you realise how extrordinary the whole operation was. Unbelievably brave men.

These guy would have settled for being bought a round of Leo for their efforts. No need for the other stuff.

Not everyone wants to be a hero. Sadly for these guys they cant get away from it ?

 

 

Unfortunately, sadly, this brave event will be forgotten here are quickly as the end of a local TV series (soap oprea) or a World Cup final.

There'll be some following analysis of events....just as with football. .how all the players,umpires and coaches performed ...but after that just a past event and move on to the next drama.

Watched daily by millions on the edge of their seat while events unfolded.....then game over. ..all forgotten.

"We were just using a very, very unique skill set which we normally use for our own interest," 

 

Plus a set of steel floating balls of which I will never have.  A cocktail to you all! ?

1 hour ago, orchidfan said:

Unfortunately, sadly, this brave event will be forgotten here are quickly as the end of a local TV series (soap oprea) or a World Cup final.

There'll be some following analysis of events....just as with football. .how all the players,umpires and coaches performed ...but after that just a past event and move on to the next drama.

Watched daily by millions on the edge of their seat while events unfolded.....then game over. ..all forgotten.

I can't see TAT missing the opportunity to turn this into a real money spinner, one way or another. PM Prayut said as much last night, when he suggested the site be turned into a museum or something similar.

Beyond and back. Thats for sure these guys are life savers and hereos and did rescue these boys who pushed the envelope of rainy season for adventure.  They got there adventure, they also are by default the reason one man is dead at 38. Cause if they were not here he would not be dead.

I wish them well but i also dont wish them to be given the damn key to the city either.

I think they deserve to be alive and the chance to grow old ,but no free scholarships for there part in the story.

Its great news and it says a lot about great  people in this world. But ive heard enough already. I wont be reading the story of the kids but i will be interested in how it all was put together this rescue. Like who called the cave divers? How did they plan and rescue and what all that meant to the final happy ending.

It was an incredible team effort, and what amazes me, is the speed at which foreign help was brought in, to get involved in the rescue so quickly.  Massive praise to all involved !