Thai rescue drama:
As 12 boys were left stranded in a flooded cave in Thailand, and a diver died trying to rescue them, Closer looks at how the trauma will affect their lives…
Inside the tragedy of the trapped cave boys
Enjoying a day E trip to the Tham Luang cave complex in Thailand, the Moo Pa (Wild Boar) football team had no idea that, just a few hours later, they would find themselves trapped over half a mile below ground. They were forced to wait an agonising nine days in darkness before a dive team located them and gave them food – raising hopes they’d be freed imminently.
But tragedy struck again last week, when one of the rescue divers, Saman Kunan, 38, died due to a lack of oxygen – giving rise to panic that the boys might not make it out alive.
As Closer went to press, there was also concern about the deteriorating level of oxygen in the cave, and the prospect of further monsoon floods.
Arpakorn Yookongkaew, Commander of the Thai navy SEALS working at the site, said,“At first, we thought the children could stay for a long time... but now things have changed, we have a limited time.”
SURVIVAL
The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach, named locally as Ekkapol Janthawong, 25, visited the caves on 23 June to take part in a local initiation, which involved scrawling their names on a wall at the end of a tunnel.
However, before they had a chance to run back out, sudden monsoon rains flooded the entrance, and the boys had to retreat further into the cave system.
They managed to survive on a mud bank, 6ft above water level, and around three miles into the six-mile network of caves, before they were found last Monday by two British divers, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen.
Two Navy SEAL doctors also agreed to stay with them and bring them food.
Delighted to be discovered, the boys said, “Eat, eat, eat, tell them we are hungry” and, “Thank you so much”.
And, last Wednesday, a video was posted on the Navy Seal Facebook page of the “rake thin” youngsters wrapped in foil blankets, folding their hands together in a traditional greeting and confirming their names.
But although they were initially told that they may have to survive in the cave for four months, until water levels subside at the end of monsoon season, authorities now want to get the boys out as quickly as possible, as more heavy rain is forecast.
As Closer went to press, they were also considering teaching the boys – none of whom can swim – to dive, and were set to carry out thorough medical examinations on the children, to decide whether they were fit enough for the arduous escape. However, they decided not to tell them about the death of the rescue diver in order not to distress them.
Psychologist and trauma expert Emma Citron says, “This is an absolutely horrendous situation, which may affect the boys for the rest of their lives.
“The first nine days – before they were found – will have been the worst, as they may have believed that they were going to starve or die.
NIGHTMARES
“They will currently be malnourished and going through acute stress – where they will have a poor sense of time, and whether it is day or night. It will be terrifying.
“On top of this, the boys may start to suffer from
claustrophobia. Later in life, the children could fear places where they feel trapped or locked in. If they get out, then they may also develop anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders,” Citron continues, “causing them to have flashbacks and nightmares.”
She adds, “It’s an incredibly unique situation, and there is no doubt that they’ll need therapy and rehabilitation to recover. Meanwhile, their parents will likely feel incredibly helpless, and the diver’s death will inevitably make them even more worried.”
Former miner Omar Reygadas knows just how harrowing being trapped can be. He spent 69 days stuck underground in Chile in August 2010 with 32 other workers, in a drama that captivated the world.
The miners were left trapped nearly 2,300ft below the Atacama desert when their cave collapsed, leaving them unable to get out. No rescuers could reach them, because all passages had either been blocked by fallen rock or looked like they were ready to collapse.
After a second cave-in two days later, authorities were also concerned that any further rescue attempts may cause more geological movement.
Probes were sent down with supplies and food. And they were able to send a note up to land, saying, “We are 33 in the refuge and are well”.
HEALTH ISSUES
Despite fears the miners would not survive, in October, a specially-built capsule was successfully lowered down a drilled shaft to bring them to the surface, one by one.
But since their ordeal, the men have sadly been plagued with health issues and have struggled to get work.
Speaking last week about the boys stuck in Thailand, Omar said, “It’s terrible for them – they’re little – but I believe that boys with a lot of strength are going to manage to be whole when they get out.
“They shouldn’t be ashamed to be scared, because we were scared too. Our tears also ran. Even as adult men, we cried.”