# Missing Soccer Team Found Alive in Cave **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173 "2018-07-02T17:03:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/181 "2018-07-08T05:36:59Z")
If you pray, please do, and if you don’t, think good thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/182 "2018-07-08T05:40:12Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > The choke point is relatively near the cave they’ve been staying in, my suspicion is if this happens they will make sure to clear that boy out, but because they’re so close to air they probably have a lot of time to work with. If one of the boys gets stuck they’re going to have a professional diver with him who will try to make sure he keeps calmly breathing while they work to extricate him. > > It sounds like the whole operation will take multiple days. I suspect only 1 boy at a time will be getting moved out at all, with probably a relay team of divers who ferry the boy out so that the professional divers are well rested since they’re essentially probably dragging a kid out the entire time. Due to the extensive pumping and getting lucky with the weather, there are a lot of stop areas with air. For example there’s one right past the worst choke point, which then bends back downward into another chokepoint. > > If the worst happens and one dies, most likely they clear him out completely. I.e. they take his body out to the surface and they tell the remainders nothing of it–no need to panic them. Since they aren’t bringing all 13 out at once them blocking the way for the person behind them shouldn’t really be an issue. I see. I had worried about a situation akin to where a mass of people are going down one single 50-story flight of stairs in a building fire, and then when it’s discovered that there’s an unpassable obstacle, it is unfortunately impossible to turn the mass of people around and they’re going to die. But as you said, there won’t be multiple boys going into a super-thin passage all at once or even in quick succession. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/183 "2018-07-08T07:37:31Z")
I’m praying that this rescue attempt is successful. The condition of the first two or three out will be an indication of what’s to come. They’ve assembled a great team of divers for the rescue. > [@](#): > > The rescue: 13 international divers and 5 Thai Navy SEALs have entered the cave to start the difficult process of freeing 12 boys and their soccer coach. > > Long process: The boys will be taken out one by one, in an operation that could “take days,” the local governor says. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/184 "2018-07-08T07:44:12Z")
Y’know, somewhere in this world there is a betting agency and callous fucks wagering on the survival of these kids? ☹ I hate this world. Hoping like fuck these young fellas get out safe and sound. Fingers and toes and everything else crossed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/185 "2018-07-08T07:48:03Z")
I assume the strongest boys will be rescued first? Only because the rescue plan needs to be implemented and adjusted on the fly. The rescue team will learn a lot getting the first one out. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/186 "2018-07-08T08:15:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I assume the strongest boys will be rescued first? > > Only because the rescue plan needs to be implemented and adjusted on the fly. The rescue team will learn a lot getting the first one out. That would make sense, and also give the weaker ones a couple more days to eat up and rest. But they’d also spend more time in a low-oxygen environment. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/187 "2018-07-08T09:11:35Z")
Here’s wishing them all the very best. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/188 "2018-07-08T10:22:08Z")
Wishing them all the best but I believe 60 people drowned on a ferry sinking in Thailand during the week. The soccer team obviously grabs more public attention for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/189 "2018-07-08T10:54:47Z")
I hope they can get at least get the first four or five out today. A relay system would be effective. The first pair of divers escorts a kid a certain distance. Hands off to fresh divers. rinse and repeat until they get them to the operations center. Meanwhile, the first pair of divers goes back. Rests. Waits for a radio signal to escort the 2nd kid. Each team resets back to their position in the cave. They get a period of rest before the next child comes up the chain. Diver fatigue is going to be a major factor. At some point all the relay teams have to be switched out with fresh divers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/190 "2018-07-08T11:02:13Z")
That’s just speculation. No rescue details have been reported. It would be too exhausting for one team of divers to help a kid make the entire 4 hour trip through the cave. A relay seems like the only workable approach. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/191 "2018-07-08T11:09:54Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Wishing them all the best but I believe 60 people drowned on a ferry sinking in Thailand during the week. The soccer team obviously grabs more public attention for whatever reason. That seems to be a rather naive and silly comment. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/192 "2018-07-08T11:34:55Z")
Elon Musk’s rescue pods were built, tested, and delivered to Thailand > **[Answering Elon Musk’s call for help to build Thailand’s cave rescue pod in 24...](https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-thailand-cave-rescue-wing-inflatables/)** > > On the morning of Friday, July 6, Andrew Branagh received a call that would put his company’s 30-year experience in the field to the test. Branagh, who serves as the CEO of Arcata-based Wing Inflatables, had been asked by Elon Musk’s engineering team... They may be helpful in getting the weakest children out. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/193 "2018-07-08T12:07:28Z")
The Guardian says the first two boys are definitely out: > [@](#): > > The first two members of the Thai football team have been rescued, a local rescue official told Reuters. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/194 "2018-07-08T12:09:06Z")
Thai officials are saying that the first two boys are out, and are currently at a field hospital near the caves. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/195 "2018-07-08T12:10:26Z")
Fox news is saying the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/196 "2018-07-08T12:12:03Z")
Awesome news. 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/197 "2018-07-08T12:32:10Z")
The first group of boys is coming out right now, two on the way to a hospital, two more waiting transport and two more about half way out the cave. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/198 "2018-07-08T12:38:39Z")
This is going faster than initially reported. Wonderful news. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/199 "2018-07-08T12:40:32Z")
For anyone interested: Channel News Asia news portal, has photos and updates as it’s happening, streams free online. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/200 "2018-07-08T12:44:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I agree bringing them out sedated is the only option. The children aren’t physically capable of climbing and swimming for hours. I doubt they were fit enough before going into the cave. Seal divers are incredibly fit. > > The route out would be partially blocked if an exhausted person collapsed. They’d be dead weight to move. > > Some sort of bag or strapping has to be used to make the sedated person easier to move and transport. They walked out on their own feet, for the past days I’ve been rather bewildered by the way people discussed their prospects. These are young, very fit boys, after spending 9 days with no food in the dark and no way of knowing if help was coming you just have to look at the video when they were found to see they have a remarkable presence of mind. It was reported they were briefed, trained and very eager to get going. I don’t know why everyone was expecting these kids to be incapable of getting through, I never doubted it. Thai people are, in my experience, very resilient and resourceful in times of crisis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173.md?page=11)