Time to stop wringing rescue story
Here comes the flood ... of information, conflicting opinions, claims to fame and probably reflections on flaws. The first part of Thailand Cave Rescue ended in triumph with all 12 young footballers and their coach brought out alive despite the tragic death of former Navy Seal Saman Gunan.
The mission was accomplished by an international team of cave divers, engineers and doctors working alongside hundreds of Thailand’s Navy Seals and volunteers in what has been described as “a display of humanity at its finest”.
The next episode of the Tham Luang story is looking bothersome.
As information gushes now that people involved in the operation have started to talk, there are worries over whether this inspiring story of how human beings from different races joined hands and put themselves at risk to help people they never knew will find an equally uplifting ending.
Let’s set aside arguments about Elon Musk’s mini-submarine. Whether the pod was useful or practical for the cave rescue is besides the point since it was never put to use. It may be said that the involvement of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO to the point of travelling to the site in Mae Sai himself was good for the rescue’s cause. Did Mr Musk win publicity from the action? He sure did. But what will humanity gain from arguing about this? Probably nothing.
It might be more useful for Thai authorities to test if the prototype mini-sub that is presumed to be sitting somewhere in Chiang Rai would be useful in other circumstances, whether they involve a cave setting or not.
Details of the Tham Luang operation, which most of the rescue divers interviewed said was the first of its kind, will definitely become the handbook for flooded cave rescues, although nobody is wishing for another anytime soon.
To me, it’s perplexing that one aspect, in particular, of the rescue operation seems to have become controversial. Earlier, some media members were fixated on whether the boys were given some kind of sedative before they were helped out of the cave by rescue divers.
The authorities, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha in particular, did not help the situation when they dismissed the notion out of hand. They were only given nerve-calming medication that helped them relax so that they would not panic underwater, they said.
For some reason, it seems the PM and Thai authorities considered this information sensitive. As some media members looked for sensational stories, or simply engaged in misplaced “breaking news” egotism, the issue became a bone of contention.
Some media personalities pointed the finger at others, saying they got their graphics wrong, specifically those which depicted the children tied to the rescue divers. These media members also tried to present more information about the possible sedation of the boys, even though none was available.
The Thai authorities, apparently gagged by PM Gen Prayut’s declaration that the children were not unconscious during the rescue, offered no further comment. The lack of information simply gave rise to speculation and the issue became unnecessarily debated.
It was only after more rescue divers opened up about the Tham Luang operation that it became apparent that the boys had indeed been sedated and were likely unconscious throughout their extraction. As for graphic portrayals of the rescue, one of the lead divers, John Volanthen, would later confirm that most of the news outlets got it wrong. The boys were actually fitted with a “handle” and “carried” with different techniques through different passages in the cave.
The point, however, is there was no need for these steps in the rescue operation to become controversies. The Thai authorities should learn they don’t need to be so cagey. The local media, meanwhile, need not be so self-absorbed and addicted to speed and the glory of breaking news. Certain information can wait to be confirmed before it is reported.
After the boys and their coach are released from hospital, their stories of how they survived for 10 days in the dark cave, with a small amount of food and but a sliver of hope, as the water kept rising, should provide fitting closure to this moving rescue. There has been a lot of talk about how the boys should grow up to be good citizens. This expectation is unnecessary as it will only put pressure on the survivors.
The cave rescue story has been beautiful so far. Don’t let it be drowned under a flood of unnecessary controversies, incomplete information or exploitation dressed up as goodwill.