Two drivers with each boy in swim to safety
THE first of the boys are making their way out of the flooded underground cave that has imprisoned them for 16 days, as the leader of Thailand’s rescue effort asked the world to pray for their safe delivery.
Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, overseeing the mission, said the families of the 12 boys and their soccer coach had given their consent for the operation to begin.
Though many ideas have been proposed to get the boys out – from drilling through the mountaintop to devising nylon pods with air tanks – it’s back to Plan A: diving and swimming them on a five-hour journey through tunnels and strong currents.
“Today is D-Day,” said the governor. “Though we have been looking for shafts to go to the place where the children are located, we have not found one. The new monsoon is coming.”
The mission, which kicked into action at 10am yesterday, will attempt to pull the boys out in pairs, each accompanied by two divers who will stay at their sides on their journey.
The expected arrival of torrential rains has forced the hand of rescuers, who fear the water level in the cave – at its lowest level since the boys were found last Monday, after intensive pumping – will start rising fast.
Narongsak said medics, including an Australian doctor who made a final check of the boys, declared them 100 per cent fit and they were as ready as they ever would be.
“Thirteen specialist foreign divers and five Thai SEAL divers are now going inside the cave (10am, Thailand time) to help the boys out,” he said.
“The children said they are ready to come out. They’re ready to join our mission. Family members know the mission, so we are already, physically and mentally.”
Narongsak said rescuers had been rehearsing the extraction with simulated dives.
“We have planned the mission, with the duty of each person clear so there is no confusion. We have trained from dawn till dusk. We want you all to wait for the outcome, and please pray and send your encouragement for the mission.
“At 9pm, you will see the result. We will bring the boys in pairs, each boy with two divers.”
The boys will be swum, assisted by a safety line and comforted by the knowledge there are air compressed air tanks for back up all along the route.
Once they get around the flooded Sam Yak T-junction, they will be able to walk the remaining three kilometres back to where they first entered the cave.
A stream of ambulances and helicopters are in place to handle any problems, with all but essential staff ordered to depart the staging area.