# 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:** 14
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/261 "2018-07-09T04:19:15Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Usually a [guideline](https://www.gue.com/files/page_images/expeditions/Mexico/guideline1.pdf) (pdf) is quite thin and would not be capable of withstanding the tension of a diver pulling against current without breaking. However I noticed the guide rope pictured in some video is substantially thicker than that typically used. > > Pulling oneself along the guide rope is not the preferred procedure in cave diving as it risks breaking the line. And in this case breaking the line would require delays to re-string the line. However as they are using a much thicker gauge guideline in at least parts of the cave perhaps they can get away with that. If they intend for the kids to pull themselves through then it’s a simple upgrade to change it from a guide line to a tow line. If I was one of the kids I think I’d want to pull myself through. IANA diver so whatever works. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/262 "2018-07-09T04:57:00Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > So the cave _may_ have been entered legally after all? If so, I’d still be hiring a hitman for that coach if my kid were there. I would have signed him up for soccer, not spelunking. I know that you’ve got a lot more experience in Thailand than probably any other poster here, but I don’t think you’re reading this correctly. This assistant soccer coach is like a local parent figure for these kids. He actually moved to the region primarily to do a sort of religious training as a Buddhist monk (I don’t know the specifics), and took on helping to coach the local soccer team as an assistant. He’s seen positively by all the parents in the area and does a lot with these kids. The parents knew the boys were going into the cave that day. I doubt it’s customary for kids parents to sign waivers in this part of Thailand for an activity that many of the children there do unsupervised all the time. The reports I’ve read say they didn’t go nearly as far into the cave as they ended up trapped, that occurred because when they were exiting the cave they ran into flood water which gradually rose. They continually moved back, into parts of the cave system likely unfamiliar to them, to avoid drowning. The parents have already said to the media they don’t blame the coach. When he realized they were trapped he rationed their meager food supplies out and he took none for himself–this is why he was in the worst shape of the party by far and was near death when rescued. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/263 "2018-07-09T05:18:30Z")
The coach was irresponsible, and may still have acted illegally. But suit yourself, join the queue of those wanting to excuse him regardless. I’ve already predicted nothing will happen to him as long as all the kids get out. You want to talk heroes, the real hero is the diver who ended up getting killed, not that bozo coach. ---
**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 9, 2018, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/264 "2018-07-09T06:53:09Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The coach was irresponsible, and may still have acted illegally. But suit yourself, join the queue of those wanting to excuse him regardless. I’ve already predicted nothing will happen to him as long as all the kids get out. You want to talk heroes, the real hero is the diver who ended up getting killed, not that bozo coach. I don’t see why you think he acted illegally. The caves are closed from July, but they entered towards the end of June, so it seems that the caves flooded early this year. Since they got in with no problem, there must have been a sudden surge of water while they were inside that cut them off. There is a school of thought that if anything ever goes wrong, _someone_ must be blamed, _someone_ must be sued, _someone_ must pay compensation, _someone_ must be punished. However, sometimes accidents just happen, without any malicious intent or culpability. Sometimes people make mistakes, or have bad judgement, or don’t think things through. It’s called being human. I dare say that even you, **Siam Sam** , may have once or twice made a mistake in your life, or misjudged a situation. Still, it’s not clear in the first place that the coach did make any mistake. We simply don’t know the basic facts, so it’s far too early to start blaming and criticising. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/265 "2018-07-09T06:58:42Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > I don’t see why you think he acted illegally. The caves are closed from July, but they entered towards the end of June, so it seems that the caves flooded early this year. Since they got in with no problem, there must have been a sudden surge of water while they were inside that cut them off. > > There is a school of thought that if anything ever goes wrong, _someone_ must be blamed, _someone_ must be sued, _someone_ must pay compensation, _someone_ must be punished. However, sometimes accidents just happen, without any malicious intent or culpability. Sometimes people make mistakes, or have bad judgement, or don’t think things through. It’s called being human. > > I dare say that even you, **Siam Sam** , may have once or twice made a mistake in your life, or misjudged a situation. > > Still, it’s not clear in the first place that the coach did make any mistake. We simply don’t know the basic facts, so it’s far too early to start blaming and criticising. ^^This, and the fact he kept those kids alive and well for ten days!! That in itself is no mean feat. Mistake or no, this fellow has done a fine job in the intervening time. Credit where credit is due etc. ---
**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 9, 2018, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/266 "2018-07-09T07:59:41Z")
Best wishes. Part two of a difficult mission. > **[Thai cave rescue suspended for the day after four more boys freed | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/asia/thai-cave-rescue-intl/index.html)** > > The second day of rescue operations at the cave site in northern Thailand ended after four more boys were brought out of the flooded cave system on Monday. > [@](#): > > “The operation has begun and it is ongoing at the moment,” the navy officer told CNN. He said Monday’s mission involved the same divers who carried out Sunday’s treacherous operation, which took nine hours and led to the rescue of four boys. > > Five ambulances were seen driving toward the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex, and at least one helicopter was also seen heading towards the cave entrance. ---
**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 9, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/267 "2018-07-09T09:43:52Z")
And in a twist, the official who’s been organising everything [has been demoted](https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/why-the-hero-of-the-thai-cave-rescue-was-demoted-20180709-p4zqe1.html). Seems he didn’t like corruption. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/268 "2018-07-09T10:17:46Z")
Reporting a fifth boy is now out. Rain stopped earlier but is expected to return before too long. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/269 "2018-07-09T11:57:41Z")
Reports that now a total of seven boys have been extracted. The last two, it seems were carried out on stretchers into waiting evac. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/270 "2018-07-09T12:14:42Z")
CNN reports an eighth is out. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/271 "2018-07-09T12:23:11Z")
It looks like rescue operations have stopped for the night. They’ll get the remaining four boys plus the coach tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/272 "2018-07-09T12:52:55Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > CNN reports an eighth is out. Yay!! In related news, [Elon Musk has clearly never been caving](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhpQng9U8AAppzM.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/273 "2018-07-09T13:14:36Z")
But Elon means so well. Yeah, I don’t think he quite understands the narrow twisting nature of cave restrictions. It’s a bit like trying to move a sofa up and down a spiral staircase - really hard to do with a long, rigid object. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/274 "2018-07-09T13:28:02Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > It looks like rescue operations have stopped for the night. Night? It’s a cave! I just don’t get not telling the families who’s out and who’s still inside. Different cultural norms, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/275 "2018-07-09T13:32:24Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I just don’t get not telling the families who’s out and who’s still inside. Different cultural norms, I guess. I would bet good money that the parents are notified once their child makes it to Chang Rai hospital. Authorities have good reason not to be upfront about that to the press, of course. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/276 "2018-07-09T13:35:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Night? It’s a cave! > > I just don’t get not telling the families who’s out and who’s still inside. Different cultural norms, I guess. Good Lord, read the thread. They aren’t stopping because it’s dark, they need to reload the air cylinders, getting them all out, filled and repositioned takes ages. The in and out journey, for the divers, is over 10 hrs, with everything in place. No one wants another diver to die. ---
**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 9, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/277 "2018-07-09T13:36:36Z")
8 out. 😃 that’s wonderful. I had hoped they’d get 5 today. But, I guess they’ll wrap this up tomorrow. Surely they wouldn’t leave one remaining for a 4th day rescue? I know the divers must he getting fatigued. It definitely helps getting 12 hours off. That’s still not the same as a full day or two break. I admire their commitment to helping these boys. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/278 "2018-07-09T13:42:16Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The in and out journey, for the divers, is over 10 hrs, with everything in place. Something I’m curious to read about later on: The “delivery” sorties (food, canisters, etc.) must take 10-11 hours, as commonly cited. The rescue sorties, where they are actually getting a child out of the cave … aren’t those going much faster? Like 5-7 hours? Or is it that the rescue sorties are going one way – the time elapsed is measured from the raised shelf to the entrance? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/279 "2018-07-09T13:42:47Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > They aren’t stopping because it’s dark, they need to reload the air cylinders, getting them all out, filled and repositioned takes ages. I know. :rolleyes: But not because it’s night. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173/280 "2018-07-09T13:48:14Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > But Elon means so well. > > Yeah, I don’t think he quite understands the narrow twisting nature of cave restrictions. It’s a bit like trying to move a sofa up and down a spiral staircase - really hard to do with a long, rigid object. I’m sure he does mean well, but I’m also sure the Thai authorities have the best advisors available, including people familiar with the situation. To a certain extent, when people like him try to offer help and suggestions, it’s a distraction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-soccer-team-found-alive-in-cave/817173.md?page=15)