reader Posted July 3, 2018 Posted July 3, 2018 For those not in country, it's hard to appreciate just how much the on-going effort to rescue the dozen young footballers and their coach has captured the public's hearts and minds. The news today that divers have broken through to the part of the cave known as "Pattaya Beach" and found all 13 alive has been met with massive jubilation and relief. It has to be the one of the three bigggest news events in the past five years. Now comes the tricky task of extricating them that could take as many days--10--as it did to locate them. British cave divers were.first to break through. Thirty US military specialists are also assisting Thai forces in the rescue. Here's the Bangkok Post link today; https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1496678/rescuers-seek-totally-safe-cave-extraction-for-boys traveller123, faranglaw, vinapu and 1 other 4 Quote
NIrishGuy Posted July 3, 2018 Posted July 3, 2018 Oh many MONTHS unfortunately if the boys aren't taught to dive to get themselves out it seems ( and that being diving in 100% pitch black darkness and through muddy fast flowing water and 90 degree bends over distances of a two miles or so :-( So, lets hope the rescuers work something else out for them or perhaps find some other access route to avoid the boys being held down there any longer than they already have been, but still, at least they're alive and no matter what else happens in their rescue that's a wonderful piece of news for the families. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44692813 vinapu 1 Quote
paulfort Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 I have probably followed this story from the UK more than any in recent year and shed a tear when I think of the predicament these boys and their coach are in! I desperately feel for the poor amazingly brave Thai diver lost in trying to rescue them but was delighted to learn on Sunday morning that 2 and then 4 boys boys in total are out and I am sure well on their way to recovery, I am encouraged that the first four were apparently rescued were the least well of these brave kids so hopefully easier to get the remainder out to safety. I find it amazing that given everything these kids are still smiling and positive, as a BBC report said to the effect "they are young and possibly finding it all an exciting but slightly scary adventure!" They are a complete credit to Thailand as are the brave team trying to rescue them, I so much hope for a positive rescue of these remaining brave kids.... vinapu, traveller123 and Vessey 3 Quote
fedssocr Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 It's been huge news everywhere. The US networks are leading with the story too...has it's own special graphics and hokey made up news name and dramatic music too. It is great news that the weakest made it out in less time than expected. Hopefully the rain overnight and today doesn't slow them down too much. It sounds like the drainage of the water has been the biggest help in getting them out. When they were talking about leaving them down there for months I wondered how that would be possible. There's a good story in today's Washington Post about the coach. I didn't know before that he is an orphan. And we learned the other day that the kid who was able to speak English to the divers is a stateless person - he's from one of the hill tribes in Myanmar and went to Thailand to get an education. And I guess he's really excelling at that. I also read that some other of the boys are also stateless. Let's hope for the successful evacution of the remaining 9 and all of the people down there helping them vinapu, traveller123 and Vessey 3 Quote
paulsf Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 It’s reported that one of the four rescued was the coach. They said he was very weak because he gave most of his food to the boys. Quote
fedssocr Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 I had not heard that. All media I've seen says 4 boys are out and 8 boys plus the coach remain Quote
vinapu Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 Hopefully by tomorrow we will have more good news, 9 still inside Quote
Vessey Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 We can but wait, I was glued to the news reports for much of yesterday once I heard that the rescue operation had begun. Guess I will be today as well now - my boss is going to love me! LOL Yes I saw in the BKK Post that the coach was one of the first four because of his weakened state. There will no doubt be much more to come out on his role - but everything so far suggests he has played a key role in the survival of those kids for so many days before help came. The bravery of the kids, the bravery of the rescue teams are all to be wondered at and celebrated: lets just hope that the remaining kids are all bought out safely. reader 1 Quote
spoon Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 One of the rescue diver killed during the operation..... so sad Quote
TMax Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 8 out now, news over here are saying 8 boys not the coach and same from the Nation Quote
TMax Posted July 10, 2018 Posted July 10, 2018 Final mission is underway and because of the deteriorating weather they are going for all those left in the cave, 4 boys, the coach, the doctor and the 3 navy seals will hopefully all be out in good time. It's been an incredible effort by the rescue teams and I hope the final mission goes well. Quote
Popular Post reader Posted July 10, 2018 Author Popular Post Posted July 10, 2018 They're all out! What a grand moment for Thailand and all nations who made this possible. And what a testament to the spirit and resilience of these boys. a447a, faranglaw, Vessey and 4 others 7 Quote
Vessey Posted July 10, 2018 Posted July 10, 2018 Its the result we had all hoped and prayed for but never really thought was achievable given that most, if not all, the boys could not swim yet alone dive, and to go through such a grueling and testing extraction after so many days of starvation in uncomfortable darkness, unsure if the world was even aware of their plight. The rescue effort was amazing and inspiring (sadly with loss of life) and a true international collaboration with the Thai authorities who, perhaps rather surprisingly, opened their arms to the help offered. This is the stuff of future block-buster movies I suspect. The whole thing has been an emotional roller-coaster and box of tissues next to my computer has become severely depleted over the last couple of days (and not for the purpose for which they had originally been bought either! LOL) traveller123, vinapu and TMax 3 Quote
a447a Posted July 10, 2018 Posted July 10, 2018 The rescue is also a testament to human ingenuity. Quote
Guest abang1961 Posted July 10, 2018 Posted July 10, 2018 Yes, this rescue remained in the headlines of the major newspaper in South East Asia. even more reporting than the on-going World Cup in Russia. Thankfully the boys and the rescue team preserve the cold and damp environment. This is pure guts and the entire team should deserve honors and merits for their efforts. The boys and the coach should get a ticket to train with top Asian teams and definitely be praised for their resilience. The unfortunate death of that diver, well, he should get a posthumous award for bravery. His family's welfare including house loans, tuition grants for the children, monthly allowances should be provided by the Thai government. Bravo... more engaging than 22 grown men running around a soccer ball... Quote
paulfort Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 I couldn't agree more with any of the above posts and whilst driving slowly this afternoon on our lovely London M25 London ring motorway road was thrilled to learn they are all safe! I guess fund raising efforts will come up to help the family of the brave Thai diver who so sadly perished, if so and probably when they do I hope we can promote on this forum - I would want to help? I am so pleased to hear that FIFA has invited them all to the World cup final, all be it the medical authorities to be fair understandably decline! English football teams such as Man United are inviting them and all involved in this brilliant rescue to visit and see a premier game as are countries around the world.... These young Thai boys have survived their ordeal and done so well they deserve to be and are heroes, and I doubt it will be long before we see the young Wild Boar team taking on who ever in a friendly! as I said before they are a fantastic credit to Thailand to which the country should be proud, as should the rest of the world with all the amazing divers who made this happen! Vessey, TMax, traveller123 and 1 other 4 Quote
Popular Post Vessey Posted July 11, 2018 Popular Post Posted July 11, 2018 Throughout all this Thai cartoonists have been capturing the mood, this last one show the wild boars with the diver Saman Guman who lost his life during the rescue. I cracked like an egg this morning when I saw this. reader, vinapu, TMax and 2 others 5 Quote
Popular Post reader Posted July 11, 2018 Author Popular Post Posted July 11, 2018 Throughout all this Thai cartoonists have been capturing the mood, this last one show the wild boars with the diver Saman Guman who lost his life during the rescue. I cracked like an egg this morning when I saw this. Broke up more than a few times, watching coverage. If you're going to give up your life to a cause greater than yourself, is there a better one? Bravo... more engaging than 22 grown men running around a soccer ball...Let's keep in mind that those 22 grown men are exactly what these boys aspire to become. The lessons and discipline imparted by the game and their coaches I have to believe contributed to their character that was so in evidence throughout. That some of these boys are stateless immigrants from Myanmar adds to the signifance of this event. Their status meant nothing to those who risked their lives to get them out nor did it matter to the Thais and others who embraced them and prayed for their safe return. DivineMadman, Vessey, TMax and 2 others 5 Quote
anddy Posted July 12, 2018 Posted July 12, 2018 This was and still is front page news in Germany too. Needless to say I've been moved by these events, too, to say the least. As reader points out in the post above, some of the boys as well as the coach are actually stateless so accepting any foreign invitations is cruelly impossible for them, lacking passports. As this article in the Bangkok Post says, there are a whopping half million stateless people in Thailand. I fail to understand why such people aren't given citizenship. What's the loss to Thailand or any other country hosting such people? None, but they will gain decent, law abiding and possibly tax paying citizens. So why not, why? Probably simple and mean tribalism of "us"-vs-"them", nothing to be proud of. Hopefully the cave story can change that. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1501574/coach-ek-the-unlikely-stateless-hero-of-cave-drama vinapu and reader 2 Quote
reader Posted July 14, 2018 Author Posted July 14, 2018 This may be first time public hears individually from the dozen boys. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/07/14/hear-12-boys-and-coach-thank-world-video/ In-depth report from Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/time-is-running-out-inside-the-treacherous-rescue-of-boys-trapped-in-thai-cave/2018/07/13/df335afe-8614-11e8-8f6c-46cb43e3f306_story.html fedssocr, vinapu and traveller123 3 Quote
reader Posted July 15, 2018 Author Posted July 15, 2018 The retired Thai Navy Seal has been posthumously promoted seven ranks to that of lieutenant commander by the King. He died during the mission to save the 13 trapped Wild Boars. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1503426/posthumous-promotion-for-ex-seal#cxrecs_s TMax 1 Quote
Guest abang1961 Posted July 15, 2018 Posted July 15, 2018 Watching this video made me cry buckets. How can I not get emotional while listening to the true innocence and purity of these Wild Boars They are so adorable - there should be a public donation to see them through university. They are so simplistic - longing for rice with braised pork leg, pad khaprao with crispy pork belly are just very ordinary Thai food. None of them mentioned fancy Western fast food. Get your tissues ready. Don't you guys want a son/nephew that is so down-to-earth? I don't think anyone was thinking of deflowering them! Quote
anddy Posted July 15, 2018 Posted July 15, 2018 another heartbreaking piece, they only learned about Saman's death today: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1503958/boys-rescued-from-cave-mourn-diver-who-died TMax 1 Quote
vinapu Posted July 15, 2018 Posted July 15, 2018 They are so simplistic - longing for rice with braised pork leg, pad khaprao with crispy pork belly are just very ordinary Thai food. nothing simplistic , they are hungry and craving food they know and like, after 2 weeks of forced fast not too many people would cave shark fin soup or kobe beef steak, rice with something or bread and butter would sound enticing enough TMax, ggobkk and kokopelli 3 Quote
