110mph race to get masks to rescuers
A WELSH cave diving volunteer has told how he drove at speeds of up to 110mph to Heathrow Airport – behind a police escort – to deliver two vital diving masks to help the rescue effort to save 12 trapped boys in Thailand.
Ali Garman, a warden with South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team (SMWCRT), revealed details of the frantic dash when he and some of the heroic rescuers met with Prince William yesterday.
The Duke of Cambridge told UK cave divers who helped save the trapped boys the country is “very proud” of their efforts.
William welcomed some of the British team who took part in the rescue mission, and their UK support groups, to Buckingham Palace in recognition of their work.
Ali, 45, told William how he collected two specialist children’s masks – the only pair in the UK – from a diving shop in Cardiff and sped along the M4 to Heathrow so they could be transported on a Thai Airways flight.
Mr Garman said he had a police escort for part of the journey from a Wiltshire officer who asked what speed he felt comfortable driving at, and when he replied 90mph the officer said “we’ll do 100mph”.
The 45-year-old added he made the flight with 10 minutes to spare: “He was clearing the road in front of me, I was hanging back what I thought was a safe distance and we were doing 105-110mph.”
The daring operation was launched to reach the young footballers and their team coach after they became stranded more than two miles deep inside the Tham Luang cave network on June 23.
They spent 18 days marooned in the dark – their exit cut off by a flash flood – before specialist dive teams guided them out one by one.
British diving experts and support workers were hailed as integral to the rescue bid, which also involved specialists from the US, Belgium, Australia and Scandinavia.
Those who spearheaded the rescue included Rick Stanton and John Volanthen of SMWCRT.
Video footage capturing the moment they discovered the missing boys was broadcast around the world.
Among those at yesterday’s reception were divers Lance Corporal Connor Roe, Chris Jewell, Robert Harper and Belgian Jim Warny. Chris, 36, from Cheddar, Somerset, said: “It was a very intense period. In the three days of the rescue operation of bringing the children out we just had to be focused on that mission.
“I was bringing the children out so I would dive with a child through the cave.
“It was particularly difficult diving conditions, particularly diving with another human being.”
The Duke, who is a keen diver and president of the British SubAqua Club, said during the palace reception: “Well done guys, it was fantastic, it really was. You should be very proud of yourselves.
“Everyone here was watching, everyone here was very proud...
“And I think cave rescue now is emblazoned in neon signs.”