THE TERRIFYING ‘CHOKE POINT’ DIVERS MUST SQUEEZE THROUGH TO REACH SAFETY

The 12 young footballers, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach, cycled to the Tham Luang cave complex on June 23. As part of an initiation ceremony, they ran to a cavern to scrawl their names on the rock wall. They were forced to seek higher ground deeper inside the huge cave system when torrential rain started flooding the tunnels.

1 START POINT

In case they have to swim to freedom, the boys have been shown the basics of scuba diving by Thai Navy SEALs. After going nine days without food before they were found on July 2, doctors have been assessing whether they are healthy enough to even attempt the gruelling dive.

2 CHOKE POINT

The biggest challenge will be navigating a very tight section of the tunnel where a sharp upward bend is followed by a downward slope. The boys would have to crawl out of the water swirling with silt in complete darkness and clamber across a rocky peak before descending into the murky waters again.

3 EXIT POINT

The supply base for the rescue mission is close to the mouth of the cave system. The boys would be checked here before being reunited with their families. If freed during the day, they would need masks or strong sunglasses to protect their eyes after being in darkness for so long.