Only heard about this a couple days ago and the poor blighters been in there a week. Seems to be unfolding like the trapped minors in Chile back in 2010.. Loved the lad who asked the British diver where he was from "England" . Bet that confused the lad probably thought that was one hell of a swim to get there..

Just hope they get them all out safe and well as can be. What a logistics task... Not read how far the tunnels are flooded... Wheres Thunderbird 4 or Thunderbirds MOLE when its needed.. Seem to remember an episode that involved drilling into a mountain to rescue.

Yes, I've been following this, the comments all along were that they were probably alive. Full marks to the football coach, handling a load of kids in that situation must have been a task and a half, I bet he's going to sleep for a week.

It's an awful situation this, thank god they've been found. Now the problem of getting them out. Just read that it could take months , unless they learn to dive ! The water will not go down for this amount of time. Just a nightmare..

Yes, it's wonderful that they are all safe, but this is just the start of a long journey for them all and a logistical nightmare for those working to free them. What it must be like being cooped up in the dark like that, I cannot imagine. At least now contact has been made and supplies can be brought to them.

From what we have seen I find the bravery of all involved and especially the children ,astounding. All very calm. The football coach is only in his mid twenties . Let's hope an ingenious mind will come up with possibly an earlier exit and that everyone will stay safe. It must be pretty damp and clammy down there.

Presume they will have some emergency extract plans should water levels rise or perhaps there might be higher drier ground further into cave system. Just that horrible feeling it could still go badly wrong.

Nah, these are resourceful Thai kids, not pampered western kids that would have a panic attack every 10 seconds at the thought of getting their designer clothes wet. They'll learn to use a breather in minutes and follow the rope, most of the delay will be setting up the rest stations, planning and making sure the kids strength have been built up again. They may have to be re-oxygenating the cavern where the kids are which will take quite a few trips with bottles.

One rescuer has died of lack of oxygen, we need an experienced UK team down there.

This is getting worse , heavy rains forcast which could flood where they are. One british diver who reached them first I think was saying it took 5 hours to reach them so with them not having dived before and panic setting in it really is going to be hard. I was thinking is there any kind of capsule that maybe could take one at a time, something like they use to dive to deep areas in the oceans? Probably not I suspect. It's a horrible situation and that just hope they get to them soon.

Very sad that a diver has died, apparently taking supplies to the boys. Five hours is one heck of a long time.. it almost seems an impossible task. Not a couple of children, but 13 in total !... they need a lot of prayers .

Capsule won't fit through the smaller gaps, they are even worried that full face masks might be a risk so are considering just mouthpiece breathers but the concern then is that if a child drops the breather they might panic - on the smaller passages nobody else will be able to see if this happens nor will they be able to help for some time.

They need to train the kids hard before hand, have them go under water numerous times and take the breather out etc until it becomes instinct, the problem with this is getting enough bottles of air down that end to do the practising.

The 5 hour run was the initial run by the English rescuers, I think they reckon a normal run is about 3 hours now but will be more than that with the kids. There are large caverns on the way that don't fully flood but might not have large ledges, they could do with getting some inflatable boats to those sections which will speed up the operation once they start moving the kids because otherwise (like a water slide) they can't start one until a the previous one is clear and currently they haven't got comms between sections..

I see the coach is getting the blame for taking them in, I hope he isn't treated too harshly, presumably the caves were bone dry when they went in judging from various comments. They certainly can pin the death of the rescuer on him, every diver knows the safety limits of their air supply and knows not to push them to the limit, this was a very unfortunate mistake by the volunteer and could have happened anytime to him if he didn't have the right mindset.

Elon Musk has given them an idea now, which I didnt quite see how it could reliably work.--involving heavy duty tubes and inflating them to displace the water in the 'caves' so the boys could walk out?https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/elon-musk-has-an-idea-for-saving-boys-stranded-in-a-thailand-cave/

Way too high a risk, anything goes wrong and anybody in the tube is a definite gonna. Also the inflated tube will go the the top and will clamp sideways onto any weight inside and again getting it through the narrow parts would be difficult unless it is extremely light (and hence easily puncturable).

Nice idea for other circumstances maybe.

Moving anything that sort of size would be a huge struggle, they spent a few days just passing a fibre-optic cable through.

I thought that idea was in progress but only allowing for the boys to crawl through the narrowest stretches.

Rescue under way. Started about 3am and expected to conclude (if that's the right word) at 4pm .

May every one be blessed with a happy ending.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/44755093

Looks like they are trying to group them together with about 5 stopping/resting places. They sound well organised now, should be good news.

One bonus is that they apparently know the cave. Whether they have been so far in before.. who knows, but they are obviously not strangers to the difficulties as they must have squeezed through the narrow gaps to get where they were.

I have no doubt the boys will get out, they of course will be priority, but I have some concern for rescuers who may use up oxygen if it takes longer than expected. They of course will be the last to leave.

Japan is having a disaster too. They seem to get more extreme weather conditions . At least 60 killed in mudslides.

Just watched two documentaries on the 1990 Chilean miners rescue which was an amazing feat of engineering.

My gosh ! 1990... hard to believe. Just been looking at the live up date on this rescue. It's not as straight forward as I first thought. Now they say they will rescue one boy at a time over, 2 to 3 days. It takes 6 hours for rescuers to reach the boys and 5 for the return journey. .. all being well.
Every one an amazing hero !

From what I've seen those lads seem very able and switched on, even after the length of time they have been in there, I wish them all the luck in the world and that everything ends well for them all.

I'll never understand why folk want to go into these caves and such places, me I start panicking if the lift takes it's time opening. The same with why mountains get climbed and tragedys happen there. I guess there'll always be that adventurous streak , especially when you're young. I must admit I've been in a couple of hairy situations whilst sailing , in my youth I hasten to say! I wish them luck with this rescue too.

some of the guided mine tours or places like wooky hollow are an amazing experience especially when you come to the "cathedral chambers" and underground lakes. You sort of have this impression that the earth is solid until you see these places.


Just read water levels have dropped a bit allowing some more areas to be walked. Hopefully good news by the end of the day 2 out and 4 more close.

Six out now.

Trump tweets about Thai rescue


US President Donald Trump has tweeted that the US government is "working very closely" with the government in Thailand to rescue the boys and their coach.

Is that true ???

Confusion on Sky News and Reuters. Apparently only 4 boys have been taken to hospital.

.

Only four out up to now Venice as far as I can see ? I

Flipping other half giving me duff info !! Apparently he was referring to all the first group which was mostly rescuers forming the total . Sorry folks , Ill ask Mark to remove that , its hardly appropriate in the circumstances . Im gutted, Ive been so pleased about it for hours !

venice...lets hope your post was just a premature note for sometime tommorrow or tuesday at latest. If those British divers still involved i think some Honours should be heading their way.. Praying water drops a bit more overnight..

It's amazing how the whole world has come together for this rescue, in whatever small way , and it's such a shame we are not allowed to live in peace and unity all the time. What a wonderful world it would be.
After eagerly awaiting and following the news yesterday, I don't think I can follow this today, the mounting stress is too much and what their parents must be going through is unimaginable, but like you Casper... wishing them all the luck in the world.

Nothing to be ashamed of Venice, I too had to correct wrong information.

Chile mine disaster was 2010 didnt think it was 28 years ago..!!

Yes, 2010, I got distracted by another rescue and got the two mixed up.

Fifth boy is out in Thailand

And 6th and 7th boys are out although on stretchers, lets hope all is well and its just exhaustion.

Brilliant ! ... I sure hope they can get them all out today.. They had rain last night

And the eight boy is out. That will probably be it for the day, rescue and supply divers will be tired which would lead to mistakes if they persist.

2 more out..........Dave and Boris

FISH !!

One divers praise for the kids.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world...e-no-kid-has-cave-dived-like-this-before

Reuters reporting that another 2 more are out this am. GMT making 10 in total. They did get it wrong the other day though ! Hold that thought.

Three out today now.

at 12.27pm

Via BBC Live page:

The Thai Navy Seals, who are leading the rescue operation, have posted to their Facebook page to say that the Wild Boars - the nickname of the boys' football team - will be reunited.

Whether that means all are now safely out of the cave, we don't yet know.

12th lad not out yet, this is getting worrying as they said the weakest kids would come out last.

12th person has been brought out.

And now confirmed that all 12 kids are out and safe.

Lets hope the coach, doctor, three seals and the rescuers are careful to complete the mission.

Confirmed that the coach is out .... only the Doctor and three seals named as remaining in the cave.

What an incredible rescue - it has gripped the world. Hope the remaining people are soon out safe and the boys don't suffer long-term effects from their nightmare. Huge relief to hear of such a successful result - so sad for that diver who lost his life though. They are all heroes.

All out apparently.. Yeh... Amazing. I've got tears..

So glad this is over and alls well , sorry that one person lost their life trying to save them. Well done to everyone involved, heroes....

Brilliant news this week....equalled only by an England win over Croatia