Recovery of Thai students’ bodies on hold until river current drops

By The Nation

 

A group of Thais living in Los Angeles visited the site of the accident and held a vigil candlelight for the students.

 

A rescue team in the United States is waiting for water levels in the Kings River to drop before it attempts to recover the bodies of two Thai students who died when their car plunged into a 150-metre gorge in Kings Canyon National Park on July 30.
 

The Thai Consulate Office in Los Angeles wrote in its Facebook page that the lowest rate of the current recently in the river where the car is partially submerged was 550 cubic feet per second (15.6 cubic metres per second). “The search and rescue unit estimates that it should lower to 400 and the team will assess the operation,” the consulate said.

 

The bodies of the two students, Bhakapon Chairatanathongporn and Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit, have been trapped in the partially submerged car since July 30. It is believed that they were heading to Kings Canyon National Park when their car plunged off a highway and over the cliff.

 

It has been confirmed that both students’ bodies are inside the vehicle, but local US authorities have been unable to recover them citing bad weather, strong winds and the river current. 

 

Following pressure from the families and the Thai community, US authorities told them that the recovery of the bodies and safety of their personnel was top priority.

 

On Monday, a group of Thais living in Los Angeles visited Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for the operation, to offer moral support and give flowers to officials. They visited the site of the accident and held a vigil candlelight for the students.

 

Meanwhile, families of the students made merit for the victims at Wat Dhammasujitto in Big Bear.

 

The families expressed their deep appreciation to the Thai community in Los Angeles for their support and particularly for the religious ceremonies held at Wat Thai Los Angeles on August 11.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323868

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-15

as it should be, why risk further deaths to retrieve bodies, I realize the families would be upset but losing more lives would be even worse, like many thais though, the families can only consider themselves and no one else, whats a few more bodies as long as they get what they want. Its good to see that they will not put anyone else in danger just because of the demands issued

 

Edited August 15, 20178 yr by seajae

What happens if a rescue is attempted and it goes wrong, meaning the bodies get washed out of the car and are never to be seen again.

Who gets the blame ? 

Will it be the Thais who put pressure on for a rescue attempt. No chance.

what happened to the uncle tha was arranging visas for the thai rescue team...please please let them go...will be fun to watch those smart arse buffoons.

No amount of logic will sink in with the gadfly uncle and his company echoing his demands.

 

This is a situation where the Americans refusing must, MUST learn how to pronounce and repeat, several times, "MAI DAAAAI!"

 

....of course, accompanied by the shaking hand, palm outward towards them.

 

 

It's the only way. 

13 hours ago, Canceraid said:

what happened to the uncle tha was arranging visas for the thai rescue team...please please let them go...will be fun to watch those smart arse buffoons.

I assume that if Thais go to the USA to get the bodies out they will have a work permit.

Edited August 16, 20178 yr by gandalf12

13 hours ago, berybert said:

What happens if a rescue is attempted and it goes wrong, meaning the bodies get washed out of the car and are never to be seen again.

Who gets the blame ? 

Will it be the Thais who put pressure on for a rescue attempt. No chance.

Can they not just scoop and lift the car out of the water with a huge strong net?

13 hours ago, Canceraid said:

what happened to the uncle tha was arranging visas for the thai rescue team...please please let them go...will be fun to watch those smart arse buffoons.

 

They did go, but somehow they got lost on their way , and ended up at Yellowstone. And, they're now giving their expert advice on national park signage.

 

Missus said to me this morning ,"you must understand the victims' families. They still have hope they're alive but need closure". I tried to explain that myself, and much more importantly, the relevant people, do understand. Now, can you understand that life isn't black and white. There are nuances where adults need to discuss and proceed with caution. Human life is sacred among people who apply common sense (and not emotions) to these kinds of situations.

 

If they sent people in under pressure (which they won't), and one of the rescue team died - I'd be thinking "what a massively sad and unnecessary waste of a life" whereas others would be thinking "they died doing their job". I know which mentality I'm glad I have ingrained in me.