Adelaide anaesthetist and diving expert Richard Harris joins operation to rescue boys from cave in Thailand
AN Adelaide diving expert and doctor has arrived in Thailand to help with the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in Tham Luang cave. The development comes as the mission chief says conditions are perfect for the evacuation to begin.
SA News
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CONDITIONS are now “perfect” to evacuate 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave before fresh rains and a possible rise in carbon dioxide further imperil the group, the rescue mission chief said on Saturday night.
The plight of the group has transfixed the world since they became stranded in a cramped chamber of the Tham Luang cave complex on June 23.
Rescuers, who are soon to be joined by Adelaide anaesthetist and diving expert Dr Richard Harris, have conceded evacuating the boys is a race against time, with monsoon rains expected to undo days of around-the-clock drainage of the deluged cave.
“Now and in the next three or four days, the conditions are perfect (for evacuation) in terms of the water, the weather and the boys’ health,” Narongsak Osottanakorn, chief of the rescue operation said.
Thai Navy SEALS have published touching notes scrawled by the soccer players to their families, who are waiting for them by the cave entrance. The children urged relatives “not to worry” and asked about eating their favourite food once they are safe.
A boy whose 16th birthday the group were celebrating in the cave when they became trapped wrote: “I love you, Dad, Mum and my sister. You don’t need to be worried about me.”
One boy writes: “I’m doing fine, but the air is a little cold but don’t worry. Although, don’t forget to set up my birthday party.”
Ekapol Chanthawong, the 25-year-old coach of the Wild Boars team, wrote: “To the parents of all the kids, right now the kids are all fine, the crew are taking good care. I promise I will care for the kids as best as possible. I want to say thanks for all the support and I want to apologise to the parents.”
Dr Harris, with extensive cave-diving experience, is on his way to northern Thailand to join rescue teams. The 53-year-old with 30 years’ diving experience will work with the Royal Thai Navy and medical experts in Chiang Rai as they prepare the evacuation.
The son of Jim Harris, a renowned former vascular surgeon and senior consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, is a member of Specialist Anaesthetic Services at Goodwood.
He has worked six years for MedStar, an aeromedical retrieval service for SA Ambulance, and has been involved in a number of body retrievals, including that of good friend and popular stunt diver Agnes Milowka, who died in Tank Cave at Millicent in 2011.
The number of Australians now involved in the rescue operation is 19.
Australia is sending a medical specialist with cave-diving expertise to join the Aussie team of 17 from @AusFedPolice @DeptDefence @dfat helping Thai Government rescue 12 boys and soccer coach
— Julie Bishop (@JulieBishopMP) July 7, 2018
🇦🇺🇹🇠@NatTraumaCentre #AUSMAT #ThamLuangCave pic.twitter.com/Fk0zjsPmcN
The eyes of the world are focused on the rescue attempts, including those of stars at the World Cup.
The Sweden and England players sent a video message of support from Russia before their Cup quarter-final game last night. The boys have asked for match updates.
US entrepreneur Elon Musk has pledged technical support and engineers. He brainstormed on Twitter about possible technology for a safe evacuation, suggesting that an air tunnel constructed with soft tubing like a bouncy castle could provide flexible passage out.
While oxygen levels in the cave have stabilised, the levels of carbon dioxide are another factor in considering when to move the group – in addition to impending rains that could cover much of the muddy ledge on which the group are sheltering.
Estimates from cave divers believe the water level may rise to the area where the children are sitting and make the area less than 10 sq m.
Rescuers are determining if the boys are ready to dive out of the cave, a complex and dangerous task through twisting and jagged submerged passageways.
The boys are being trained in diving basics if a sudden evacuation is required.
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