Cave rescue takes tragic turn

Thai military diver dies as time limited to save boys

A FORMER Thai military diver helping to rescue a young football team trapped inside a flooded cave has drowned as officials warn the window of opportunity to free the youngsters is “limited”.

The diver’s death raises serious doubts over the safety of attempting to bring the 12 boys and their football coach out through cramped passageways deep inside the waterlogged Tham Luang cave.

But Thailand’s Navy SEAL commander indicated that rescuers may have little choice but to attempt the tricky extraction of the group.

He confirmed yesterday the trapped boys cannot wait out the monsoon underground.

“At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time ... but now things have changed, we have a limited time,” Apakorn Yookongkaew said.

A sombre mood has clouded the elation from earlier in the week, when the boys were found dishevelled and hungry but alive on a ledge kilometres inside the cave.

The diver, identified as Sarman Kunan, 37, passed out and died while returning from the chamber where the boys are trapped.

He was part of a team trying to establish an oxygen line to the chamber where the children are awaiting rescue.

Many of the boys – aged between 11 to 16 – are unable to swim and none has diving experience.

Chiang Rai deputy governor Passakorn Boonyaluck delivered the “sad news” of the diver’s death to reporters massed at the entrance to the cave complex.

“On his way back he lost consciousness,” Navy Seal commander Apakorn said,

adding Mr Kunan died despite the desperate efforts of his team to help him out.

“We lost one man, but we still have faith to carry out our work.”

Asked how the boys could make it out safely if an experienced diver could not, Mr Apakorn said they would take more precautions with the children.

Even for expert divers the journey is an exhausting 11hour round trip.

“It’s very risky. Think about it, a Navy Seal just passed away last night, so how about a 12-year-old kid,” said Rafael Aroush, an Israeli volunteer at the site.

The accident marks the first major setback for the rescue effort, which started almost two weeks ago after the Wild Boars team went into the cave in northern Thailand after football practice.

Their ordeal has gripped Thailand, with the nation holding its breath for their safe escape.