"Thirteen international divers and five Thai divers have entered the cave to try and take the group out.
The acting Chiang Rai governor told reporters, “today is D-Day.” He said the divers went in at 10 a.m. and the boys will gradually come out accompanied by two divers each. He says the earliest they will come out is 9 p.m. Sunday local time (10 a.m. ET)."
I’ve had 2 shoulder MRI’s due to frozen shoulders on one side and then the other. Both times I kept my eyes tight shut the whole time. The second one was particularly bad, since my frozen shoulder prevented me from keeping my arm still at my side and they had to keep restarting the test because it was twitching uncontrollably. While I was inside the machine with my eyes glued shut.
This story so reminds me of the Chilean miners - hopefully it will end as well as that event did. Children are remarkably flexible and adaptable in so many ways. They have that to their advantage at least.
I think I read in one of the links posted in this thread that the portions of the cave that are underwater (totally) are about 10 meters in length. I’m hoping that’s true as that distance doesn’t sound so horrible.
Of course one of those sections is a very narrow passage and they have currents and muddy water to deal with.
I’m so hoping that these boys can be brave and strong.
If this doesn’t work out and they have to fall back and consider Musk’s plan, they could sedate the boys if needed.
I’m not sure there would be any turning back.
Well, worst case — they lose one of the boys early in the process. Certainly hoping what they are doing works. But if it doesn’t…
Sylvan - I certainly hope so. I will have to check the news if I wake up in the middle of the night. The miners had an advantage of not being prone to claustrophobia… one can’t be a miner if they can’t stand being in tight, dark spaces.
The kids all willingly climbed through miles of tunnel so I’m less worried about claustrophobia than the sheer physical demands of the dive.
One of the teammates who didn’t go on the hike said the team goes on cave hikes all the time and there is never any pressure to go the hikes. The boy said he’d already been on 4 hikes this year. He said they’d hike in with food, water, and flashlights, and often the flashlights would die out and they’d be in darkness, so I’m thinking they’d all be used to it.
@sue22 – I get the impression that the dive parts are not terribly difficult/long right now because they’ve pumped out so much water. I believe I read where the underwater portions were around 50 meters in length each and the rest is walking/wading. With a pro in front and behind with connectors, the kids can basically be “towed” through the dives.
The main problem is if one of them gets water in their mask and panics. The sensation of drowning kicks in a real primal fear. Part of certification process exposes it to you so you can deal with it. You flood then clear your mask, take it off and put it back on, spit out your regulator and reinsert it, spit it out and switch to your backup, etc. Even after all that, when you encounter it in real, unscripted life it can be a shocker.
Mu kids are all tucked up in bed for the night. As others have said, I simply cannot imagine what the parents of these kids are feeling this minute… .
I’m thinking so much water has been pumped out that this rescue effort no longer needs a miracle to get all of them our safely. That’s honestly what I’m feeling right now.
The rescue has begun. They are taking the boys out one by one. Two boys are out and on their way to the hospital.
So glad they are getting the boys out. Will take hours, but its in process!
I wonder how they determine the order. I wouldn’t want to be first, or last.
Wondering if the coach will go last.
I’m reading that 3 of the 11 hours are underwater. I saw a graphic on Twitter of a map, but there isn’t an article I can link.
Woke up to the wonderful news that two of the boys have been brought out of the cave ahead of the expected time it was thought it would take. Praises to the numerous experts and workers who made it possible. So impressed by an international effort.
@eyemamom Initially, the strongest were removed first. After those first few, I don’t know if they have changed the order.
At four now per MPR!
Thrilling news! I’ll have to get caught up
What a relief to hear these boys are getting out safely. Those divers are heroes