The Thai cave rescue so far
It’s been going better than I’d expected.
A total of eight boys have now been rescued. Four more to go, plus the soccer coach.
Their rescued teammates are being treated in quarantine at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital. Former Chiang Rai governor and rescue mission commander Narongsak Osotthanakorn said Sunday night that doctors were monitoring the rescued boys for any illnesses they may have picked up in the cave and supervising efforts to build up their strength after they spent more than two weeks with little food and no natural light.
Kids are resilient. But they’re also small and most of them don’t have a lot of fat reserves to get them through a bout of starvation:
Danish cave diver Ivan Karadzic…told CNN Monday that the boys were wearing several wetsuits to “minimize heat loss,” which is a concern due to their “very skinny” bodies and the cold water.
I’m really glad that things are going well so far, but it took a huge international effort to accomplish it.
An interesting question is how they chose the order in which the children would be rescued. Did the kids have any vote? The coach? Or was it up to the rescuers? I read the other day that they chose the weakest ones to go first. I assume that was because they were most at risk the longer they stayed in the cave. However, wouldn’t they also be most at risk in an arduous journey out of the cave?
We don’t know which boys were rescued. But neither, apparently, do the parents:
Another family member told CNN that they hadn’t been told which boys had been pulled out, and who is still trapped in the cave.
Here are some more details on the help the divers provide:
The most dangerous part of the journey out of the labyrinth cave system is the first kilometer, during which they are required to squeeze through a narrow flooded channel.
Rescuers need to hold the boys’ oxygen tanks in front of them and swim pencil-like through submerged holes. Having completed this section, the boys are then handed over to separate, specialist rescue teams, who help assist them through the remainder of the cave, much of which they can wade through.
Danish diver Karadzic told CNN Monday that the children are attached to the divers with a thin line, a commonly used tool in low visibility situations to minimize risk.
An intense effort.
Don’t go into certain caves, kids. There are no heroes from Attack on Titan to save you from the giants.
Also, being underground has an interesting effect on people’s bio energy field.
“I read the other day that they chose the weakest ones to go first. I assume that was because they were most at risk the longer they stayed in the cave. However, wouldn’t they also be most at risk in an arduous journey out of the cave?” [Neo]
The weakest boys will be at maximum strength early on. That strength will drop as they weaken from extended exposure. The risk factor of the journey, however, remains constant. If the goal is a successful rescue of the greatest number of victims, it makes sense that the physically weaker go first, at a time of their optimum strength rather than last when they might be least likely to survive the journey.
To add to ymarsakar – stay out of dry riverbeds, washes, chasms when dark water-laden clouds are in the vicinity. Or at least have higher ground just steps away should water be upon you.
I used to camp in the Anza-Barrego desert near San Diego and evidence of flash floods were everywhere.
This whole cave thing seems like a failure of common sense. The placed has danger signage, as I understand it.
Hope all get out, though one person is already dead.
So far the “good guys” are racking up wins, but this is no time to stop praying for a perfect score.
Can you imagine how terrifying it must be to make that first part of the journey? You’re asking a kid to plunge into a confined space filled with water — in the dark.
I’d have a few questions. Did you really get the others out alive who went before me? What’s your background and skills? What’s the worst situation you’ve ever been in? How committed are you saving my life? Are you willing to die to save me? Do you mind if I try on the mask and stick my head in the water for a bit to ensure it fits properly? What happens if the mask falls off?
The only thing that would get me going is that I’d rather die trying to get out than stay in the God-awful place.
praying for a perfect score.
Quantum magic is predicated upon utilizing the power of the observer to change the world lines to fit one that contains the correct (desired) information.
Current physicists still hold unto much of their orthodox and classical knowledge, taught by Newton or Einstein, and it is difficult for them to grasp hold of this concept.
Religious people have their traditions and dogmas to help on the whole faith issue.
I had read that they took the stronger kids first. Which would make sense, as you would want the stronger kids when you were learning, and then the weaker kids once you had seen all the problems that could arise.
I have been following this very closely. Obsessed by it.
I read this morning that the kids did have a say in the order in which they are leaving the cave, and that would seem to make sense psychologically. There is also a doctor with them who no doubt has a say. I’ve seen conflicting reports on whether it was the strongest or the weakest kids who went first. Stronger first, while learning, makes sense, I hadn’t thought of that.
They vary quite a bit in age, too, from 11 to 16. That’s a pretty big difference.
I’m amazed they managed to stay sane. Apparently the coach has done a superb job keeping them safe and well. Reports say he had them meditating. Sounds like they were a very cohesive group, and that they were strongly bonded with the coach, both of which must help.
I’m worried about the coach, they say he is weak from having given his food and water to the kids. I’m sure he’ll be the last one out, I hope he doesn’t have to wait an extra day.
Really looking forward to learning all about the logistics, etc. Imagine the difficulty of the decision-making here!
Sarah Rolph:
I was guessing that the coach had been instrumental in helping them survive, both mentally and physically.
On the other hand, I am fairly sure that, as the adult in charge, he is to be faulted for letting them into that cave in the first place when the rainy season was coming.
Yes, apparently they are even considering negligence charges against him, although some people are lobbying against this. I expect there will be an inquiry once the dust has settled.
Today is for celebration, if all continues to go well. The 11th boy is out! One more, plus the coach, plus three seals and a doctor. Apparently a doctor has been in there the whole time — another hero!
I just heard everyone is out!
Boys (more than most girls) will adventure, and thank goodness they do, though some die every year because of it. Certainly the coach – not a ton older than the oldest boy – erred terribly here, but on the other side of the scale he seems to have done nothing but his best to care for the boys since they were forced into their chamber by the rising waters. Pretty sure there’s nothing society could do to him that would be worse than what he’s been doing to himself.
Yay brave men and dedicated people working this problem, and the TV show “SEAL Team” is going to make bank on this.
Correction, doctor and three SEALS seem to be in the cave still. What an ordeal – I hope they get to come out today!
For just how utterly terrifying it is…
https://www.facebook.com/shadchan/videos/10155443758666389/