GME: Thai diver dies during cave rescue attempt

The diver’s death raises serious doubts over the safety of attempting to bring the 12 boys and their football coach out through cramped passageways deep inside the waterlogged Tham Luang cave.

The team has spent nearly two weeks trapped underground in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave. We are praying for each of you, for each of the families and for these children.

The 12 boys and soccer coach trapped inside a Thai cave have been promised tickets to the World Cup final on July 15 if they can make it out in time. When the rescue mission for the soccer team was announced a number of former SEALS in a group chat sent around the message “See you in Chiang Rai”, according to a translation of the post by The Guardian. The Boring Company has “advanced ground penetrating radar” and is “pretty good at digging holes”, he said earlier.

“Don’t worry dad and mum”, said a note from one of the boys who gave his nickname as “Bew”.

Rescue operations have for days been pumping water out of the cave, trying to get levels to drop.

Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Cade Courtley, a former US Navy SEAL said bringing the children out through the flooded tunnels could be treacherous.

Despite concerns, the boys are unlikely to be extracted within the next 24 hours because it was still too unsafe, according to a Thai Navy official who is not authorized to speak to the media. Two of them and their coach are in poor health.

Major General Chalongchai Chaiyakum, deputy commander of the Third Army Region, said it takes rescuers 11 hours to do a round-trip from the cave’s entrance to the group and back again, working against water currents inside the cave.

“The most hard thing is that they’re kids”, he said.

However, if heavy rain forecast for northern Thailand hits, authorities may have to switch plans and attempt an urgent extraction despite the risk, Mr Osotthanakorn said.

They are hoping that an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling.

“We are supporting the frogs team … we have medical teams and divers from the navy with us”, Samarn said, referring to Thai military divers by their nickname. While underwater, he passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

“His job was to deliver oxygen”.

The rescue mission is tricky for numerous reasons.

The 38-year-old volunteer died after losing consciousness in a passageway on his way out of the cave. His body was taken to a naval base in central Thailand, and then on to his family in the northeastern part of the country. “Even when he left the department, he still loved and bonded with his SEAL team brothers, no matter what activity the SEAL team held, Saman would always participate in activities, right until his last minute”.

Kunan’s death had changed the mood on the ground and made real for rescuers just how risky the mission has become.

He said: “Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission”.

Following a conference with Chiang Rai’s Governor, Narongsak Osottanakorn, it has been revealed that no attempt will be made to rescue the trapped Thai soccer team today.

Thai Navy SEALS released a statement on Facebook on Friday praising their former colleague.

Rescuers are reportedly also concerned about a lack of oxygen in the cave. Maj.

The dramatic rescue efforts and the boys’ plight have garnered global attention – perhaps most notably at soccer’s most widely-watched event, the World Cup.

“The situation is changing all the time”, Apakorn said. They had been trapped by rising water while exploring.