Children missing in Thai cave found.

[eloisesparkle]

It appears the children and teacher have been found alive.
Has a miracle happened ?
I am so delighted and hope they will be ok after their horrific ordeal.
It's always nice to see good news as lately all the headlines are of something bad having happened.
Please forgive me if there is already a thread on this topic.

peridito I doubt we will get too much in the way of official updates until they are all out. Especially if there is any bad news involved.
The divers must be knackered.

Press conference in half an hour.

I'm heading to the New Forest to collect my 15 yo DS who has walked 30km this weekend for his DofE. I can't wait to squeeze him tight. Glued to my phone for updates whilst DH drives.

Pup DofE is tough - especially in this weather and it's a great achievement - don't embarrass him but hold him close.

They’ve confirmed only 4 are out. No more will be rescued until tomorrow at least.

Four out, rather than the six reported earlier, and the rescue mission has been halted for the night now.

Thanks Val. Have postponed hugging until we get home; just a quick squeeze so far. My boys are very loving and don't mind showing it, within limits of course.

So they've brought the weakest out first after medical assessment. They've had to stop due to oxygen levels. Hope they can successfully start again soon. Was there a live press conference?

Yes 4 out so far - the wait will be agonising- those poor parents

I can’t imagine being one of the children left behind for the next 10-20 hours, it would be terrifying. Just as scary for the parents too I reckon. The relief for the ones rescued must be immense. Glad all seems to be going well.

Not sure about that, they're in the same position as they've been for the last few weeks but now they have contact with the outside world, food, water, medicine and they know that the first four made it safely. They're probably feeling more positive and the Guys staying with them will be talking up the fact that the other boys did so well and got out much quicker than expected, in order to give them confidence.

Do we know why it’s been halted? Hope they are all ok

Looks like it was only halted so the divers can rest and recheck all the gear.

They've halted for the divers to rest. But they're now saying there are issues with the oxygen in the cave

I think the rescuers need to rest. Imagine only a very small number are skilled enough to do the whole route.

RideSallyRide76 It’s the knowing that I would be rescued soon but also the possibility of the rain hitting hard before then I guess that would be scary. Thinking, if there was less I could be out. Then again I have anxiety so always find a reason to worry.

Wishfulmakeupping it would be a mistake to rush.

The hardcore cave divers are around 16 in number, they are stationed at a few points in threes and I can imagine the last 8 hours must have been gruelling. They will be exhausted, in need of sleep and food- to carry on may risk safety.
Equipment may be depleted, lines may have come amiss, any number of technical issues - they need this time to rest, regroup and push on tomorrow.

BBC Radio News just said it started raining heavily an hour ago. 😨

Yes ,the rain ....

Does anyone know whether the oxygen/air/compressed air or whatever it is supply that it was reported had been achieved to those that are trapped ,is still in place ?

Are there still 2 Thai Navy seals with them ,or others .Will there be equipment available do you think if the unthinkable happens and their area floods ?

With rain in ernest will the water become full of strong currents ,hampering getting to them ?

How long can a tank of whatever it is ( compressed air ? ) keep someone alive ???

Press conference seems to have said that the rescuers were using relays of oxygen placed along the route, and these need to be replenished. Press conference wasn't in English and BBC is reporting a translation of what was said, so some clarity may have been lost.

BBC has a graphic showing how it's being done, with one boy between two rescuers, attached by a line and being towed along, with a rescuer carrying the air tank. They also have a guide rope along the route to follow.

Those rescuers are such heroes

Rescuers are certainly heroes .I keep wondering how their families cope .

I'm also wondering how the news of the success of the first party has been conveyed to the remaining group .

I'm not sure if there is any means of communication to them ,there was talk of HeyPhones having been brought over by the British cave divers .
Would someone swim back from the base camp ?

These boys are being so brave as is their coach. I’m not going to lie, I’d be panicking and freaking out I’d probably be extremely hesitant to be pulled through such a long and tight space it would feel too scary, even as an adult I’m terrified at the thought. The fact that have got them out I’m guessing means they are being very calm and so brave. I don’t think I could cope so well. I’m sure it may hit them hard after it’s over. They are going to need a lot of care.

I'm not sure about communications back to the remaining boys.

But reports say they need time to replenish all of the oxygen cylinders at each staging point in the cavern - this will take a lot of time relaying divers to and fro to each of the stop off points. Presumably others may need to rest. Atmospheric Oxygen supply in the cave itself may also be low.

I'm very moved by the accounts of this whole event and the goodwill and hope being expressed across the world. I've been following of closely in the news and twitter. There are indeed a lot of heroes involved. I really didn't think it would be possible to get the boys to be able to dive - many can't swim but the fact that they brought the weakest out first is encouraging,

I'm also moved by the support and sympathy for the coach that is being widely expressed. At first I wondered what he'd been thinking of taking them so deep into the caverns but now I understand they were forced deeper and deeper in by the rising flood waters. Apparently he is the weakest of the lot having given food and drink to the kids first. He has also kept them alive this long (as many have pointed out on Twitter) and taught them meditation to keep calm.

I hope they all make it. There are so many committed people trying to make that happen. Not least the Thai navy seal who gave his life for them.

I'm so livid with someone in my office and it's taking all my strength not to respond. We are a very small start-up and we have a whatsapp group and he has sent 2 extremely unsavoury and completely unacceptable memes, around the it's coming home theme. One shows the Thai boys and the other shows Madeline McCann's parents and the message is "at least someone's coming home". I am horrified and the more I think about it the more angry I am feeling.