Eight young footballers rescued in Thailand cave - but race on to save five that remain trapped
Four more children rescued from flooded cave on Monday
Total of eight boys now brought to surface and in 'good health'
Another four boys and their coach remain stuck in Thai cave
Parents told 'no hugging or kissing' until health checks cleared
Heavy rains raise growing fears for safety of those still stuck
Meet the 'A-Team' of volunteer British divers who led search
The official in charge of the daring extraction of 12 young boys and their football coach from a deep cave in northern Thailand has predicted that a third mission on Tuesday will be “100 per cent successful” after four more children were freed in dramatic fashion on Monday.
A third rescue attempt would be launched Tuesday afternoon, announced Narongsak Osottanakorn, the governor of Chiang Rai province and the head of the joint command centre coordinating the mission, on Monday evening.
But he would not confirm whether all five of the remaining survivors left huddling for another night in a dark cavern 2.5 miles inside the labyrinthian underground network, would be freed in one go.
The group is believed to include football coach Ekapol Chanthawong, 25.
“For safety, the best number is four,” he said, raising the possibility that one of the party could be left behind for another 24 hours.
The group remains in imminent danger despite an improved weather forecast over the next few days.
In spite of the challenges of the perilous extraction process, which involves diving through winding, jagged submerged passageways over a 1.7km stretch to reach dry ground, a mood of optimism is spreading among the rescue teams.
Monday's operation brings the tally of rescued boys to eight, the retrievals were two hours faster than on Sunday, and all of the children are said to be in a good condition in hospital and asking for Pad Krapow, a Thai dish of basil leaves, meat and rice.
“The team is getting used to the operation and in the cave we have more than 100 staff, for guide ropes, to fill [air] tanks and 18 divers to get the kids,” he said.
The first boy to be rescued on Monday was stretchered out of the mouth of the cave to an ambulance between 4.30 and 4.45pm.
He was taken by ambulance to a field hospital for an assessment before a helicopter transfer to waiting medical teams in the nearby town of Chiang Rai.
Throughout the day’s rescues, Thai public television broadcast live video of medivac helicopters, believed to be transporting the boys, landing close to Chiang Rai’s provincial hospital.
The first child was followed in quick succession by three more between 6 and 8pm.
They joined the first batch of four boys - rescued on Sunday – who are now in isolated medical care while doctors test them for potentially lethal infections that they could have picked up in the damp cave.
The rescue of the eight was confirmed mid-evening on the Thai Navy Seals Facebook page, using the name “boar” in a reference to their team name, “Wild Boars.”
None of the boys has been identified by name, as the authorities do not wish to upset the families of those still in danger.
Medical experts were discussing on Monday when it would be safe for their families to see them, suggesting the option of allowing the parents to greet their sons through a glass window and stressing that could be “no hugging, no kissing” until their blood results are known.
Thai cave rescue effort | Read more
As the exhausting rescue mission was suspended on Monday evening, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s prime minister, visited the cave entrance to offer support to the rescue teams who have worked tirelessly in treacherous conditions to save the children, aged between 11 and 16.
He suggested a thank-you party may be held for the foreign divers who have flown into the Southeast Asian nation to help.
Monday’s mission began at 11am local time (5am BST) when an international diving team, including British experts, entered the cave complex for a second rescue operation in 48 hours after water levels had remained at manageable levels despite heavy rainfall overnight.
More than 90 divers altogether are said to be have been involved in the operation.
Working directly to guide the boys out are 13 expert foreign divers and five Thai Navy Seals.
Thai cave rescue: How it’s being done
The boys are being brought out one by one, each accompanied by two divers as they traverse over a mile of submerged, jagged passageways.
In one particularly treacherous bend, only one person can squeeze through at a time.
The tragic death on Friday of Saman Kunan, a former Thai Navy Seal, when he ran out of air while replenishing air tanks along the route, starkly highlighted how dangerous an extraction by diving could be.
Rescue teams have been taking no unnecessary chances.
Their mission was temporarily paused after Sunday’s initial success, to replace air tanks and check underwater guide ropes.
The equipment remained in good condition, but some divers had been swapped out due to exhaustion, and others have been planning for Tuesday, said the governor.
Conditions at the cave currently remain favourable to the rescue efforts. Monday was unseasonably dry and sunny and a senior forestry official confirmed that furious efforts to drain the cave using pumps and irrigation channels had paid off.
“The water levels are stable,” he said.
Navy SEAL commander's aide: Operation to resume tomorrow
An aide to the Thai Navy SEAL commander has confirmed that four boys were brought out of the flooded cave in on Monday and the ongoing rescue operation is over for the day.
The aide, Sitthichai Klangpattana, did not comment on the boys' health or say how well the operation has gone.
A total of eight of the 12 boys have now been brought out of the treacherous cave system by divers, including four who were brought out on Sunday, when the rescue operation began.
The boys and their 25-year-old coach have been trapped for more than two weeks after heavy rains flooded the cave network, which is made up of caverns connected by tight passages.
Rescue operations 'suspended for the night'
Rescuers at the Tham Luang cave complex have reportedly suspended operations for the day.
A witness working with the rescue team told CNN that they had brought the mission to a halt.
Five people - believed to be four boys and their coach - remain trapped in the caves - with the rescue operation likely to begin again on Tuesday.
Eight boys freed from cave - official
An official close to the rescue operation has said that eight boys have now left the cave since Sunday, confirming reports that four youngsters were freed so far on Monday. Another four boys and their coach remain trapped.
Cheers erupt as boys flown to hospital
Crowds have been gathering at the entrance to the Tham Luang cave complex as the rescue efforts continue.
Four of the 12 boys - who have been trapped for a fortnight with their coach - were reportedly freed on Monday.
After being assessed by medics at a field hospital near the entrance to the underground tunnels, the children have been picked up by helicopter from a military airfield.
From there, they have been flown to hospital in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai where they are under observation.
Eighth person carried out on stretcher - fourth to be rescued today
An eighth person has been carried out on a stretcher from the Thai cave, a witness has told Reuters, bringing the number of boys reportedly rescued today to four. Another four boys remain in the cave, along with their coach.
Sixth and seventh boys 'carried out of cave'
A witness has told Reuters that two more boys appear to have been carried out of the cave on stretchers. However, there has been no official confirmation of this yet.
Sixth boy reportedly out of cave
According to reports, a sixth boy has been rescued from the flooded Thai cave and is being treated by medics.
Thailand's Khaosod media reported that the sixth boy emerged at 6.20pm and is still at the field hospital. A seventh boy is said to be nearing the exit.
BREAKING: I am now hearing a SIXTH boy has left the #thamluang cave and is being treated by medics at the field hospital #thaicaverescue
— James Massola (@jamesmassola) July 9, 2018
Boy assessed by medics in field hospital
Thailand's Spring News TV reports that the fifth boy was taken to the field hospital in an ambulance at 4.23pm local time (10.23am BST).
The boys are first being assessed by medics in a field hospital, before being transported to a hospital in Chiang Rai city, about an hour's drive from the Tham Luang caves.
Around an hour after the fifth boy was pulled from the cave, a rescue helicopter flew overhead towards Chiang Rai.
Fifth boy rescued from cave - official
A fifth boy has been rescued from the Tham Luang cave, according to a Royal Thai Navy official. He is believed to be in the field hospital at the site. Seven boys and their coach remain trapped underground.
Rescued children say 'I'm hungry' - and ask for meat and sweet basil dish
Some of the four children brought to the surface from the cave on Sunday told medics: "I'm hungry".
According to a local police chief, the boys being treated in hospital asked for pad kra pao - a popular Thai meat dish with sweet basil served over rice.
First person carried out of cave on stretcher - witness
After the second phase of the rescue operation was launched, rescuers have carried the first person on a stretcher to an ambulance from the Thai cave, according to a Reuters witness.
'Good news' expected within hours, says governor
Narongsak Osottanakorn, Chiang Rai’s governor has said he expects “good news” within hours from the second rescue mission at the Tham Luang caves, after international divers and Thai Navy Seals entered the site at about 11am on Monday (5am BST), reports Nicola Smith in Chiang Rai.
It is hoped that the next group of boys could be freed by about 8pm (2pm BST). “They started the mission around 11am and it may take about four to five hours later,” he said on Monday.
The governor would not release any names or the number of children who are making their way along the perilous submerged route.
Medical officials are discussing whether to allow the parents of the boys rescued on Sunday to see them this evening.
Helicopters, which have been flying to the site during the day, are on “24 hour standby”.
The governor stressed that journalists should not use drones to film the area, which could interfere with the flight path and reiterated that tapping into rescue radio transmissions was illegal.
The governor also confirmed that the strongest boys who were “most ready” were coming out first.
The rescue mission was temporarily paused after Sunday's successful attempt to bring the first four boys out, as air tanks had to be replaced and the underwater guide ropes checked again.
All of the equipment remained “100 per cent ok,” said the governor. “Every process is in a perfect condition like yesterday,” he added.
Some exhausted divers have been replaced, however. Conditions at the cave are still favourable to the rescue efforts, despite rainfall overnight.
“Since the rain, I know people are worrying about the water levels,” a senior forestry official told reporters. “But the water levels are stable.”
Pumping conditions to drain the water from the cave are also “stable,” he said, and efforts to dam streams heading inside are also ongoing.
A senior forestry official told reporters that the conditions at the cave were good, water levels remain unchanged.
Four rescued from cave 'kept away' from parents over infection risk
Four members of a Thai youth football team guided out of a flooded cave complex will not be allowed physical contact with their parents until the risk of infection has gone, the chief of the rescue mission has said.
"They (the four) will be kept away from their parents for a while because we are concerned about infections," Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters, adding doctors will decide on family visits "at a distance or through glass."
Thai authorities say four boys rescued from cave on Sunday are hungry but in good health
A press conference with Thai authorities has started. They say that the second phase of the operation began at 11am local time (5am BST).
Overnight rain did not change water levels in the cave where the boys are trapped.
Chiang Rai governor expects "good news" within hours after second rescue mission began at 11am on Monday at #thamluangcaves@TelegraphWorld
— Nicola Smith (@niccijsmith) July 9, 2018
Rescue has resumed as nine people stuck in cave
The operation to rescue the boys and their soccer coach has resumed, according to several officials with knowledge of the operation who have talked to Reuters.
Nine members of the "Wild Boars" team are still inside the Tham Luang cave after foreign and Thai divers guided four boys out safely late on Sunday.
'No hugging, no kissing' boys until health checks cleared
Chiang Rai health officials have reportedly told Thai media that the families of the four boys who have been rescued will be able to see the boys soon, but cannot touch them until they have been cleared for contagious diseases.
Chiang Rai Health official tells Thai media that families of those boys rescued can see the boys as soon as tonight but “no hugging, no kissing” until blood tests are returned, to ensure they did not pick up contagious diseases such as potentially fatal leptospirosis
— amanda hodge (@hodgeamanda) July 9, 2018
Signs of movement at the cave entrance
Telegraph Asia Correspondent Nicola Smith writes:
International journalists are still being held at a distance of at least a kilometre from the entrance to the Tham Luang cave.
Photographers are camping out under makeshift tarpaulin tents in a pineapple field, keeping a close watch on a T-junction where ambulances and rescue workers have been heading in and out all morning.
The Telegraph spotted three ambulances enter the road at about noon, but there are reportedly several more already at the site. A rescue helicopter flew overhead earlier in the morning.
No unauthorised personnel allowed past a police checkpoint at this T-junction, about 1km from the #thamluangcaves So far the weather has been dry on Monday morning but low monsoon clouds are skimming the mountains above the cave pic.twitter.com/dLhEsY5Y8n
— Nicola Smith (@niccijsmith) July 9, 2018
Police are maintaining strict checkpoints at the entrance to both the pineapple field and the T-junction, and only authorised vehicles are being granted access.
To the relief of the rescue workers, the weather has so far remained dry, although low clouds hang over the top of the Doi Nang Non mountain range where the cave is located.
Another chopper just flew towards the #Thamluangcave Looks like rains are closing in pic.twitter.com/KzMcb3kMj1
— Nicola Smith (@niccijsmith) July 9, 2018
Reports in the Thai media suggest that the second stage of the rescue mission will begin before 5pm local time – 11am in the UK. General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Thai prime minister will also visit the caves this evening to offer his support.
Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, indicated that the boys would be taken out in batches of four, which would suggest at least another two extraction missions over the coming days.
Same divers to be used in next phase of rescue
Thailand's interior minister says the same divers who took part in Sunday's rescue of four boys trapped in a flooded cave will also conduct the next operation as they know the cave conditions and what to do.
In comments released by the government, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said officials were meeting Monday morning about the next stage of the operation and how to extract the remaining nine people from the cave in the country's north.
Anupong said divers need to place more air canisters along the underwater route to where the boys and their coach have been trapped since June 23. He said that process can take several hours.
He said the boys rescued Sunday are strong and safe but need to undergo detailed medical checks.
Elon Musk's Space X testing 'kid-sized submarine'
Elon Musk's Space X rocket company is testing a "kid-sized submarine" that could be sent to help boys trapped in a flooded Thailand cave.
Musk posted videos on Twitter of the aluminum sub being tested at a swimming pool on Sunday afternoon California time. If the tests are successful, the sub would be placed on a 17-hour flight to Thailand.
Four of the boys were rescued on Sunday, and authorities are now working to replenish air tanks along the cave's treacherous exit route. They say rescuing the eight remaining boys and their soccer coach could take up to four days.
A spokesman for Musk's Boring Co. tunneling unit, which has four engineers at the cave, has said Thai officials requested the device, which could potentially help the children through narrow, flooded cave passageways.
Simulating maneuvering through a narrow passage pic.twitter.com/2z01Ut3vxJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2018
Teachers say they will take mental health advice to help boys
Teacher at Mae Sai Prasitsart School: “We have to prepare ourselves for when the boys return. We will follow the guidelines of mental health professionals.” pic.twitter.com/wEUffQwJKK
— Jacob Goldberg (@yayqe) July 9, 2018
Teachers at the school attended by many of the boys are speaking to the media.
'You never know when you will need your English"
Learning English with the boys from the cave. Just in case. A sign at Mae Sai Prasitsart School, where six of the boys are students. #dpareporter#Thailand#ThaiCaveRescuepic.twitter.com/wah3jaPA2w
— Christoph Sator (@ChristophSator) July 9, 2018
This is wonderful.
'Rescued boys in quarantine'
The MThai website has reported the four boys have been quarantined to check for viruses from the cave. They also report the parents haven't been told who is free yet because of the psychological impact on those whose kids are still inside.
'Boys to be brought out in fours'
Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, said in a TV interview she believed the boys will be brought out in groups of four. Australian divers are working as part of the rescue mission.
Hospital floor sealed off for team
Daylight here at hospital where 4 boys rescued from a flooded cave spent their first warm, safe night out of the darkness. They’re getting specialized attention; the entire 8th floor is sealed off just for their care. Today, phase 2 to save 9 more lives. #ThaiCaveRescue@NBCNewspic.twitter.com/IGmtp1XTBO
— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisfrayer) July 8, 2018
Joy for classmates
More rain on the way
There are cloudy skies at the scene after a night of rain. It is not yet known how the latest weather has affected water levels inside the cave complex.
Thailand's Meteorological Department said there was a 60 percent chance of rain Monday with thunderstorms forecast throughout the week.
Those forecasts were the reason rescuers began bringing the boys out of the cave on Sunday, earlier than expected.
Ambulances assemble
Reporters at the site are still trying to find out what is happening but say activity there suggests evacuation efforts are about to resume.
At least seven ambulances were seen driving to the cave entrance.
Who are the rescued four?
Local media have named the rescued boys as Mongkol Boonpiam, 13, Nattawut Thakamsong and Prajak Sutham, both 14 and Pipat Bodhi, 15. However, there has not yet been any official confirmation and some reports suggest in fact Ekapol Chantawong, the coach, may have been brought out because he was in a weakened state after giving his food to the boys.
Relatives say they are still in the dark.
Officials plan next steps
Thailand's interior minister says the same divers who took part in Sunday's rescue of four boys trapped in a flooded cave will also conduct the next operation as they know the cave conditions and what to do.
In comments released by the government, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said officials were meeting Monday morning about the next stage of the operation and how to extract the remaining nine people from the cave in the country's north.
Mr Anupong said divers need to place more air canisters along the underwater route to where the boys and their coach have been trapped since June 23. He said that process can take several hours.
He said the boys rescued Sunday are strong and safe but need to undergo detailed medical checks.
'If the water rises, it's a painful death. If I jump, it's over'
Helena Overton has described the horrifying experience of being trapped by floodwaters inside a Thai cave. She was the only survivor.
Twenty minutes in, disaster struck. “We heard this massive roar,” she says. “We turned around and the water had just come in. It was like a big wave.”
“The water was rising and rising and we were getting pushed up. I just thought ‘we’ve had it’,” she says.
But, above the water level, she managed to find a small ledge. “John told me to sit there so I did. He was on it for a bit, but then he decided to go and get help. I never saw him again.”
Meet the Wild Boars
Here's the list of players and their coach who went missing:
Ekarat Wongsukchan , 14 (nickname: Bew) – plays goalkeeper and promised his mother he would help at her shop after he was rescued
Pipat Pho , 15 (Nick) – is not a member of the Wild Boars but joined their practice on June 23 to spend time with his friend Bew
Pornchai Kamluang , 16 (Tee) – plays defence and told his parents not to worry in his letter home. “I'm very happy," he wrote
Panumas Sangdee , 13 (Mig) – another defender, and wrote to his parents that the Thai Navy Seals were taking good care of him
Adul Sam-on , 14 – a midfielder, who spoke to the rescuer when they were first discovered. He is in a volleyball team that came second in a North Thailand-wide tournament
Prajak Sutham , 15 (Note) – plays in midfield, although sometimes fills in in goal, and is described as a "smart, quiet guy" by his family
Peerapat Sompiangjai , 17 (Night) – right winger. It was his birthday the boys were celebrating when they went missing and his parents have told him they are waiting to hold his party
Sompong Jaiwong , 13 (Pong) – was seen in an England shirt but apparently dreams of playing for the Thai national team, according to his teacher
Duganpet Promtep , 13 (Dom) – striker and captain of the Wild Boars, and has reportedly been invited for trials by several Thai professional clubs
Chanin Vibulrungruang , 11 (Titan) – the team’s youngest player has been playing football since the age of seven
Nattawut Takamrong , 14 (Tern) - told his parents not to worry about him
Mongkol Booneiam , 13 (Mark) – is a trainee with the team and described by his teacher as a "very respectful and good child"
Ekapol Chantawong (Ake), 25 - the a ssistant coach apologised in his letter to the parents for leading the boys into the cave , but they said they did not blame him
