We’re all set to go in Dive team set for Thai cave rescue... in race to beat the monsoon

THAI cave rescuers were in a desperate quandary last night as monsoon rains threatened to wreck hopes of saving 12 schoolboys.

After five days of nail-biting preparations, elite navy divers were on the brink of starting the risky rescue mission.

But while a massive pumping operation to reduce the cave water levels was working well, the children were ‘not yet ready’ to embark on the perilous lengthy swim through underground tunnels.

The extreme dangers were brought home yesterday when a Thai hero diver drowned during the rescue operation’s preparations.

Former Thai navy SEAL Saman Kunan, 38, volunteered to help deliver oxygen tanks though a long underwater tunnel – but tragically ran out of air himself.

Having warned the rescue could take months, officials yesterday admitted they were being bounced into early action by the threat of torrential rain, sinking oxygen levels in the cave and the ‘weakening’ of three boys. Monsoon storms could undo the progress rescuers have made in pumping out millions of gallons of water.

However, despite the hopeful conditions, four Thai navy SEALS including one medic, who are alongside the stranded youngsters and their 25-year-old football coach, have judged the boys are not yet ready, said regional governor Narongsak Osatanakorn. But he added: ‘If there is heavy rain, we will do it.’ Tragic diver Mr Kunan had vowed, ‘We will bring the kids home’ as he took leave from his new job as an airport security guard to join his former comrades in the rescue effort.

But Petty Officer Kunan, who left the navy 12 years ago, got into trouble underwater despite being an expert diver and a super-fit triathlon runner.

His death prompted concerns over how 12 terrified children who cannot even swim would fare on the same hideous journey. The schoolboys and their coach went into the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand on June 23 and retreated further inside to escape monsoon flooding – by an extraordinary three miles. They were eventually found by two British cave divers nine days later on Monday, who brought out video footage of the rake-thin boys grinning, including Liverpool fan Sompong Jaiwong, 13, pictured in and England football top.

Officials have been planning to fit the boys with full-face oxygen masks and extract them two at a time with navy chaperones. Yesterday, after pumping out 130million litres, the cave water levels had dropped by enough to enable the boys to pass some sections without going under water.

It means that an 11-hour return journey has apparently been cut to less than six. But despite this, the governor said the boys would not be moved until they were ‘100% ready’.

He said the two divers had yesterday visited the boys again, who were mostly in good condition, although three were now ‘quite weak’. He added: ‘Weaker than the other boys, but not in a serious condition. And they are all mentally strong.’

But rescue teams are racing against time amid worsening weather and lowered oxygen levels. Naval chief Apakorn Yukongkaew said last night: ‘We can no longer wait for all conditions to be ready, because circumstances are pressuring us. At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time, but now things have changed.’

Regional governor Mr Osoththanakorn explained: ‘We would like the minimum risk’, adding: ‘They cannot dive at this time’. He said they would ‘test the plan’ once it had been finalised.

‘If there’s heavy rain, we’ll do it’