Thai soccer team rescue.

[Chewbacca]

If you were responsible for a large group of 10 - 12 year olds...

Would you take them into a watery dark labyrinth of caves during rainy season?

I mean, they’re all alive (thank goodness), healthy and soon to be rescued, in time, but.

I’d be fuming if my kids’ coach took my kids and other parent’s kids somewhere with no cell signal, let alone rations, med kits, more adults etc, etc...

This soccer coach is going to have some explaining to do for many angry parents, and an entire country after the celebration is over.

Any military or first responders wanna chime in?

[Kostas]

Lol you mean Thai

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Kostas

Lol you mean Thai :rotfl:

Yes, Thai.

[Kostas]

Oh they’ll show compassion for the media , but later behind closed doors

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Kostas

Oh they’ll show compassion for the media , but later behind closed doors

I’d have wooden spoons ready!!!

[Rock]

Soccer Coach sends a note home that says:
"I'm going to take the Team caving in 'Black Bear Cave' (or wherever)"
I go and see him - I say "Are you crazy? That is a very long cave system and it floods regularly throughout the wet season. My son isn't going and I am going to speak with the Principal and see what he thinks about this insane idea."

[cedargrove]

My understanding is these kids explore the caves often and are familiar with them, and the caves are apparently blocked off between July and October during the rainy season, however this heavy rain was unexpected.

Not sure the coach did anything wrong.

[Old Expat Beast]

My Thai friends say none of the parents are blaming the coach, quite the contrary in fact. They thank him for keeping the boys focussed and well, and not scared.

[Kostas]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

My Thai friends say none of the parents are blaming the coach, quite the contrary in fact. They thank him for keeping the boys focussed and well, and not scared.

That’s good to hear !

They where trying out masks on the kids to teach them to dive , is it true they don’t even know how to swim ?

They might have to wait it out a bit longer.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Kostas

That’s good to hear !

They where trying out masks on the kids to teach them to dive , is it true they don’t even know how to swim ?

They might have to wait it out a bit longer.

Yes, none can swim, and they are still too weak to even if they could.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Kostas

That’s good to hear !

They where trying out masks on the kids to teach them to dive , is it true they don’t even know how to swim ?

They might have to wait it out a bit longer.

I doubt they'll need to do any swimming. The rescuers will probably build a cable route the length of the cave to make it easy for a professional diver to traverse with a victim in tow. The kids will just need basic scuba equipment skills, then hang on for the ride.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

My Thai friends say none of the parents are blaming the coach, quite the contrary in fact. They thank him for keeping the boys focussed and well, and not scared.

Smart.

They don’t want to scare him so he comes out.

My parents used this strategy too.

[GoingPlaces]

Incredible situation, I hope they get them all out safely.

[brandrea]

Not much to say other than I hear there is most likely a happy ending to this story.

[Abdullah71601]

I did this same sort of stuff all the time when I was an 11-14 y/o boy scout. Folks I know in scouting still do it. I don't see anything wrong with this trip.

You can't always predict the weather, especially outside the US where they don't have 10,000 weather radars and sensors peppering the landscape. Sometimes sh1t happens. The fact that they are all safe in the face of a life threatening event speaks volumes for the coach.

[Old Expat Beast]

It's a very complicated operation.

https://news.sky.com/story/thailand-...-rise-11424755

[Abdullah71601]

Cave diving is a big recreational sport in the US. The techniques for this type of rescue are well established. While it seems really complicated to lay people, for experienced cave divers it's pretty straight forward technical dive. The logistical challenges are the challenging bit, but will all be done well before the kids get in the water.

They'll train the kids to use the breathing kit with enough confidence to self recover from common issues. It will be dark and murky, so the kids need to be prepared for that. Otherwise, they will tie the kids off to the professional divers and tow them out.

[Old Expat Beast]

Many experts have been interviewed this week and I have yet to hear one of them sound upbeat. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thailan...bly-dangerous/

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Many experts have been interviewed this week and I have yet to hear one of them sound upbeat. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thailan...bly-dangerous/

The gloom and doomers make much better press.

Nobody is inventing any new techniques to execute this rescue. It's all planning and logistics. They'll secure the route, preposition gas, stage additional rescue divers, and prepare the kids to know what to expect. It's difficult, but it's not a moon landing. Preparation resolves 99% of the risk.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The gloom and doomers make much better press.

Nobody is inventing any new techniques to execute this rescue. It's all planning and logistics. They'll secure the route, preposition gas, stage additional rescue divers, and prepare the kids to know what to expect. It's difficult, but it's not a moon landing. Preparation resolves 99% of the risk.

Factored into that equation, how much room is allotted towards a "panic attack"?

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Many experts have been interviewed this week and I have yet to hear one of them sound upbeat. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thailan...bly-dangerous/

So, If I understand that drawing correctly, there is a 30m descent and then (I suppose) a 30m ascent?

I do not feel encouraged about that at all. Easy to get the "bends" if not done correctly.

[Theurbancommando]

I can't wait for the Hollywood version of events to be made into a film. Those two civvy British Cave divers who found their way to the kids will no doubt be promoted to US navy seals, complete with American accents..

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Theurbancommando

I can't wait for the Hollywood version of events to be made into a film. Those two civvy British Cave divers who found their way to the kids will no doubt be promoted to US navy seals, complete with American accents..

Nah.........they will be SAS.............

[THC]

Like the miners rescue back in 2010, the world is watching.

[Kostas]

They were also considering drilling from above to get to them , but I think they quickly realised that wasn’t feasible , they really might have to sit out the wet season

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Kostas

They were also considering drilling from above to get to them , but I think they quickly realised that wasn’t feasible , they really might have to sit out the wet season

No way they leave them through the wet season. There is no guarantee that the pocket they're in now stays dry. They'll be out in a week.

[TRM]

I read earlier today that none of the boys know how to swim but are undergoing a crash course on swimming and scuba diving. This is the fastest way to get them out, but it is also the riskiest.

[Kostas]

I just heard that the particular tunnel that they’re in pretty much ends a short distance from where they are , if the rains worsen they might have no choice !

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

If you were responsible for a large group of 10 - 12 year olds...

Would you take them into a watery dark labyrinth of caves during rainy season?

I mean, they’re all alive (thank goodness), healthy and soon to be rescued, in time, but.

I’d be fuming if my kids’ coach took my kids and other parent’s kids somewhere with no cell signal, let alone rations, med kits, more adults etc, etc...

This soccer coach is going to have some explaining to do for many angry parents, and an entire country after the celebration is over.

Any military or first responders wanna chime in?

I see your point.

I dunno what state I would be in , if my 8 year old son was trapped in a cave. Happy he would be alive.........torn to pieces when it comes time to move, happy again once he gets to the other side..........still do not know what my reaction would be towards his Coach!!??!!

Grateful he took care of my son??!!!

Angry about going into the cave??!!!

Exploring caves part of the soccer curriculum ? Or was it a field trip?

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by DARK_KNIGHT

I see your point.

I dunno what state I would be in , if my 8 year old son was trapped in a cave. Happy he would be alive.........torn to pieces when it comes time to move, happy again once he gets to the other side..........still do not know what my reaction would be towards his Coach!!??!!

Grateful he took care of my son??!!!

Angry about going into the cave??!!!

Exploring caves part of the soccer curriculum ? Or was it a field trip?

The coach is going into protective custody. And if he isn’t last out, he gets the wooden spoon too.