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Water pumps failed just after last boy escaped Thai cave
Rescue efforts to pull 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from a cave could have gone horribly wrong after pumps failed, sending rescue workers scrambling for safety.
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Source: Reuters, SBS
Image: The elite Thai Navy Seals who carried out the rescue. (AAP)
Only hours after the Thai soccer team and their coach were freed from the partially submerged Tham Luang cave complex, rescue workers were forced to flee as pumps battling floodwaters failed.
Rescue workers were still clearing up equipment about three hours after the rescue operation wrapped today, when the pumps failed, causing water levels to increase dramatically.
An Australian diver told Fairfax Media the rising waters triggered dramatic scenes at the rescue site.
“There were 100 guys running down the hill and the water was coming. The water was noticeably rising,” one said.
Rescue workers freed the remaining boys last night. Source: AAP
Earlier, the final five members of the youth football team were rescued from the flooded cave after spending 18 treacherous days trapped deep inside, completing an astonishing against-the-odds rescue mission that captivated the world.
Thailand's Navy Seals said on Facebook the remaining four boys and their 25-year-old coach were pulled to safety on Tuesday night.
Eight of the boys were rescued by Thai and international divers on Sunday and Monday.
"This is an important event in my life. It is something I will remember," said a visibly emotional Rachapol Ngamgrabuan, an official at Chiang Rai's provincial press office.
"There were times when I cried," he added. "Happy. Very happy to see all Thai people love each other."
The dramatic rescue marks the end of a more than two-week ordeal which began when the "Wild Boars" team and their coach became trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave on the border with Myanmar on June 23
Jubilation greeted the news that the final rescuers had also emerged unscathed from the Thai cave. Source: AAP
This afternoon, Australian rescue workers from the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force briefed the media on the complexity of the rescue.
Australian divers and rescue workers helped move more than 20 tonnes of equipment - including oxygen, medical supplies and pumps - through the cave's narrow and submerged passageways.
Two British divers found the 13 last Monday and 20 Australian formed part of the large international contingent but the search and rescue operation was largely been driven by Thailand's elite Navy Seal unit.
'Hooyah!' Scenes of jubilation
Thais have been glued to their televisions, mobile phones and computer screens following every twist and turn of the boys' story, as have many people overseas.
Following word the final four boys and their coach had been pulled from the cave, there were scenes of jubilation across the country.
In the northern city of Chiang Rai, car horns were honked in the street and locals posed for selfies to show where they were when the astounding event happened.
Thais turned to social media on Tuesday to show their elation using the hashtag #Hooyah, a word used by the navy to build morale.
Other hashtags included #Heroes and #Thankyou.
Thai Navy Seals give the thumbs up after a job well done. Source: Thai NavySEAL/Facebook
"You are our heroes!" wrote some, and their coach with dozens of rescue workers, volunteers and military personnel.
On Monday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would host a celebration for all of those involved in the multinational rescue effort.
"We will host a meal for all sides," said Prayuth.
Top Thai retailers including Central Group and The Mall Group also chimed in to show their support.
"We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave," the Navy Seal unit wrote on its official page moments after the rescue.
The ups and downs of the rescue bid entranced Thailand and also fixated a global audience, drawing support from celebrities as varied as US President Donald Trump, football star Lionel Messi and tech guru Elon Musk.
"On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy Seals and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand," Trump tweeted. "Such a beautiful moment - all freed, great job!"
Britain's Manchester United football club said on its official Twitter page that it was relieved to learn that the 13 were safe and extended an invitation for the group and their rescuers to visit its Old Trafford stadium.
Impossible to possible
The rescue effort involved Thai and international agencies.
Authorities mulled ideas such as drilling holes into the mountain or waiting months until monsoon rains ended and they could walk out, with the rescue chief at one point dubbing the efforts to save them, "Mission Impossible".
With oxygen levels in their chamber falling to dangerous levels and monsoon rains threatening to flood the cave above the ledge where the boys were sheltering, rescuers decided on the least-worst option of having divers escort them out through the tunnels.
The escape route was a challenge even for experts - a former Thai Navy Seal diver died when he ran out of oxygen in a flooded area of the cave on Friday while trying to prepare the escape route.
The Wild Boars. Source: Reuters Image Grab/Facebook/Ekapol Chantawong
Many of the boys could not even swim and none of them had diving experience, so the rescuers trained them how to use a mask and breathe underwater via an oxygen tank.
The rescue chief, after the success of the daring mission, revised his description of the efforts to "Mission Possible".
Boys took 'minor' tranquiliser for rescue
One fear had been that the boys would panic while trying to swim underwater, even with a diver escorting them.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha revealed on Tuesday the boys had been given some medication to help them remain calm.
"It was a minor tranquiliser to prevent (the) boys from being anxious," Prayut told reporters.
Mental, physical toll of the ordeal
Now they are out, concerns are set to focus on the physical and mental toll of the ordeal.
Experts warned that drinking contaminated water or otherwise being exposed to bird or bat droppings in the cave could lead to dangerous infections.
They also said counselling would be needed to deal with the psychological trauma of spending so long not knowing whether they were going to survive.
The first four boys are rushed to hospital after their ordeal. Source: EPA
But there were some promising initial signs.
Medical chiefs reported on Tuesday morning that the eight boys rescued on Sunday and Monday were in relatively good mental and physical conditions.
"All eight are in good health, no fever... everyone is in a good mental state," Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, permanent secretary of the public health ministry, said before all 13 had been rescued.
Nevertheless, the boys would remain in quarantine in hospital until doctors were sure they had not contracted any infections from inside the cave.
Boys won't watch World Cup in Russia
FIFA had extended an invite to the boys to watch the World Cup live in Russia - but the team won't make it to Sunday's final because of the strict quarantine measures.
The Thai boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach, were invited to the World Cup final last Friday, but will “probably still be in isolation" Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Public Health, Dr Jessada Chokedamrongsook said in a press conference.
The boy are likely to watch the match on television, she said.
Australian leaders react
Senior Australian government ministers have come together to praise the rescue efforts, saying "Thai authorities have demonstrated outstanding leadership".
A joint statement from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Defence Minister Marise Payne and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said international cooperation was key to the rescue.
"Under the leadership of the Royal Thai Navy Seals, rescue crews from Australia, China, the United Kingdom and the United States have worked in close partnership to ensure the safe return of the boys and their coach," the statement read.
"Australia has played an integral role in this unprecedented operation. We congratulate all of those involved, including Dr Richard Harris and his dive partner Craig Challen, as well as our Australian Federal Police divers and personnel from the Australian Defence Force and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who provided logistics and planning expertise.
"Australia has been proud to work with Thailand and other countries to achieve this extraordinary outcome. "
- Additional reporting by AFP.
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