Did Anyone Die During the Thai Cave Rescue?
If you are like most people, you are probably wondering if anyone died during the Thai cave rescue. The situation is not over yet, but there are many things that are still being worked on. One of those things is the rise in water levels. Another thing is the strong currents. There are also some alternative methods that are being used to get the group out of the cave.
Saman Gunan’s death
Saman Gunan’s death during the Thai cave rescue has sent shockwaves around the world. He was a former Navy SEAL who died on a mission to help the stranded youth soccer team in Tham Luang cave complex.
His body was recovered from the cave on Friday. A funeral took place Saturday in his home province of Roi Et, Thailand. Many people attended the ceremony. It was held with full honours. The Privy Councillor to the Thai king Surayud Chulanont, and cave rescue mission chief Narongsak Osottanakorn paid tribute to him.
In the three weeks that he was trapped, Saman Gunan was the only Thai Navy SEAL to die. In addition to delivering oxygen to the boys inside the cave chambers, he was one of thousands of cave diving experts who helped rescue people from the complex.
Saman’s death, which occurred at two o’clock in the morning, sparked a massive outpouring of grief in Thailand. It was also followed by international relief efforts. People from all over the world offered support to the Thai government in its mission.
Before leaving for the mission, Gunan had filmed a video of himself on the pier at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. He told his wife that he would return with something, but didn’t give much detail.
Saman’s wife, Valepon, was worried about her husband. But she knew he had a job to do. She asked him what it was and he replied, “It’s just to deliver something to the Tham Luang cave.”
Saman’s wife attended a course on innovation and entrepreneurship, and tries to stay active. She works nine to 15 hours a day, and learns English in the evenings.
Options for extracting the group from the cave
The Thai cave rescue has been a hugely complicated affair. An international team of rescuers led by two Australians, and a group of British divers, has been trying to get a group of boys and their football coach out of the Tham Luang cave.
The boys and their coach were discovered in a partially flooded cave in northern Thailand. They were trapped in a complex subterranean cavern fed by a broad watershed. This meant the boys had to navigate through flooded passages to reach safety.
Rescue teams tried to pump water out of the cave system. When the rains began in early July, rising water levels cut off access to the cave’s chambers. However, the team was able to create a hole five metres deep in the rock.
One of the main decisions made during the rescue effort was whether or not to evacuate the group. Although the options are not entirely clear, there are a few possible choices.
One option would involve drilling out a new entrance from the surface. This would require the cooperation of hundreds of people. It would also be a lengthy process.
Another alternative was to use a special diving gear to guide the boys out of the water. The team could have used glow sticks, dive lines or even extra oxygen tanks.
Diving out of the cave while fully anaesthetized presented some unique challenges. Aside from the risks involved, the procedure was technically difficult and required major deviations from standard anaesthetic practice.
In addition to the usual dive gear, divers had to use a specialized mask. There was no guarantee that the boys’ breathing was going to be regulated, so the risk of death was high.
Rise in water levels
A frantic phase of extraction plans is underway in Thailand following the discovery of 13 boys and their football coach trapped in a mountain cave. For the past nine days, the group has been stuck underground. Their rescuers are working to drag them out before the monsoon season starts.
Rescuers are now attempting to lower water levels in the cave, making it possible for the children to walk out. However, the rainy season continues to wreak havoc. In the meanwhile, international teams are working to rescue the group.
Several rescue teams are working on pumping millions of liters of water out of the cave system. Experts have modeled different options for a water diversion.
One option involves installing an oxygen pipe into the underground operation center. This would allow the boys to breathe oxygen while they wait for the waters to recede.
The main pump in the cave failed when the team was attempting to clear up equipment. Water levels inside the cave began to rise, forcing divers to withdraw. It took the team almost two weeks to get all of the divers out.
An early signal that the mission was a success came when a British diver found the group alive on an elevated rock. Afterwards, a team of mapping experts built a 3D map of the underground streams.
Maps are a must-have when it comes to search and rescue operations. Most missions begin with a good map. Once the area is mapped, responders can coordinate activities. And the most effective search and rescue activities are often the most logical.
Mapping experts used a variety of methods to build a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the cave’s interior. By studying the maps’ contours, they were able to predict the volume of water that would reach the surface.
Strong currents
The rescue of a missing team of 12 boys and their soccer coach has been hampered by strong currents inside a cave in Thailand. Rains have been expected over the weekend, which could further exacerbate the situation. A team of international rescuers is battling the currents to free the children.
Thousands of people have joined the effort to rescue the boys. These include representatives from 100 governmental agencies and scores of rescue workers. There are also five members of the Thai Navy SEAL unit and 13 foreign divers.
Rescue teams are pumping millions of liters of water from the cave to try to lower the water level. They have been doing so at an average of 1.6 million liters per hour. This will be the most difficult part of the operation.
One risk in the rescue is hypoxia, a condition where oxygen levels are too low. This causes restlessness, headaches, and confusion.
Another risk is panic. If the boys are in a narrow passage when they panic, it could spell disaster. Luckily, the rescue team has practiced the operation several times.
In addition to the rescuers, there are several other experts helping with the operation. These include a team of GIS experts from the Thailand Department of Mineral Resources. This team produced a series of useful maps. Other experts are working on underwater robotics and underground transport systems.
The rescue mission will continue until Monday. It is estimated that the boys will have to swim through dark and muddy passages to get to the surface.
Some of the first international rescuers arrived on 28 June. Experts from the UK and China were among those involved.
Alternative ways to rescue the group
The Thai cave rescue effort is no longer as simple as it was when a team of experts were first tasked to find the missing boys. With monsoon rains expected to hit the country later this week, the operation has become more dangerous.
For nearly two weeks, the 12 boys and their coach have been trapped in an underground cave. They were rescued after a massive international effort. This included scores of medical professionals and thousands of volunteers.
One of the most difficult aspects of the Thai cave rescue effort has been the rising water levels inside the cave. While the team has managed to pump out millions of liters of water from the cave, the flooding has cut off the exit route.
The Thai navy is sending teams to explore the infrastructure of the cave and keep the boys company. It is also sending medics and high-protein liquid food. However, the rescuers are still debating how best to get the boys out.
Experts are considering three possible options for getting the boys out of the cave. These include teaching the boys to swim, pumping out the floodwaters, or waiting until the monsoon season has ended.
If the boys do get out, the rescuers will have to use scuba gear to pull them out. Their oxygen level is estimated to be only 15 percent. That makes simple tasks exhausting.
In the meantime, rescuers are trying to run an oxygen line from the cave mouth to the chamber where the boys are waiting. They’re also looking for natural chimneys. These could lead to a small dry incline, but the rescuers are unsure if it’s safe.