Article Operations 2 min read
The British Organization Assisting With the Dramatic Thai Cave Rescue
The British Cave Rescue Council, an organization of experienced cave divers, has played a lead role in a difficult rescue mission that has thus far recovered 11 young boys from a flooded cave.
Heads up: this content is over 5 years old, so some information may be out of date.
The saga of a Thai youth soccer team that somehow ended up trapped in a cave—but, miraculously, has survived (opens in a new tab) despite being stuck a kilometer under the surface for weeks—has grabbed the world’s attention in recent days.
And despite the challenge of the underground rescue, 11 of the young boys, aged 11 to 16, have made it out of (opens in a new tab)Â the flooded cave system so far. One more, along with their coach, remain underground. The boys ended up there after they visited the cave (opens in a new tab) in a post-practice excursion and a flood trapped them underground.
Members of the British Cave Rescue Council (opens in a new tab), a donation-supported group that represents voluntary underground search and rescue operations, have played a significant role in the rescue mission.
After a nine-day search, two such cave divers, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, were able to reach the young boys earlier this month, and according to The Guardian (opens in a new tab), they have more than 35 years of experience in assisting with cave dives.
“They managed to dive the last section and get through into the chamber where the missing party were on a ledge above the water,” said Bill Whitehead, the vice-chair of the council, in comments to the publication.
So how’d the British cave divers get to Thailand? A third British cave diver, Vernon Unsworth, can be credited for leading to that decision. Unsworth currently lives in Thailand and convinced authorities to bring in the help, per The Telegraph (opens in a new tab).
The team of British cave divers, seven in all, are well-suited to the complex, technical operation, which is very challenging work being undertaken on a voluntary basis.
“They are diving daily, for long periods, in very challenging and hazardous conditions and need full rest and recuperation in the short time between dives,” a spokesman for the council told The Guardian. “Clear judgment and physiological recovery are essential for their personal safety and effectiveness in the operation to rescue the boys.”
(British Cave Rescue Council/Facebook)
Comments
Comments are for ASAE members. Learn more about comments on this site.
Log in to your member account or join ASAE!