Wow. The pumps failed right after the boys got out. Thank goodness the doctor and the SEALs got out ok.
According to the Thai governor, they had to abandon most of the equipment & excess oxygen tanks once they got the last rescue person out due to the flooding after the pumps failed.
I wondered a couple days ago if the Thai government wasn't going to blow up or close off the entrance after they got the boys out, so others wouldn't be able to go in and get trapped too. Now, word is that Thai officials are thinking of turning that whole makeshift village around the cave into a world class tourist attraction.
They are going to leave in some of the equipment. And they are thinking of preserving some of the diver's uniforms for a museum there.
Me, I'd just wave at everyone going in the cave, from the entrance.
No way would I be going in.
Other factoids according to GMA / ABC:
The U.S. military team was stationed in Chamber 3 (the above ground platform and main rescue site inside the cave, closest to the entrance.) They were responsible for the hand off, when each boy got to them, they would transfer the boys to the medics waiting at the entrance of the cave. The U.S. team consisted of air rescue men, support personnel: medical, communications, logistics. "All hands were on deck for this effort."
According to the U.S. mission commander in charge of the U.S. team, who was being interviewed, during the first couple days after the boys were found by the 2 British divers, the boys had to be left alone over night as the rescue divers left to go back outside. They were often left for 24 hours or more at a time with no communication with the rescuers. They had to
trust that the rescue team would come back for them.
That was before the Dr & a couple others were able to get through to stay with them.
The U.S. commander also said the rescue operation had no communication with the rescue divers at all once they went past Chamber 3. The rocks & water were too thick for signals to get through. So once they left & went towards the boys, they were pretty much out of communication till they got back. (There were other support personnel stationed throughout.)
He said even though they got out 4 for 4 the first day, they were always cautiously optimistic each day, but extremely vigilant against complacency, as anything could have gone wrong.
He said people aren't trained for this kind of operation. They are either trained for rescue diving OR for cave rescues. But he doesn't believe anyone trains for cave rescue diving operations, going down 2.5 kilometers down into a cave submerged 60%-70% of the way.
When it came time for the boys to be rescued, about 5-6 boys, each time would say they were eager & ready to be the next boy. They weren't showing signs of fear.
Matt Guttman of ABC, asked the Thai governor what the boys said when they first got out.
The Thai governor said they mostly said they were hungry.
Matt: "Did they want to see their parents or give them a hug?"
Thai governor: "Not really. What they wanted
most was to watch the World Cup soccer." (They are a soccer team, after all.
)
(The World Cup soccer has now invited them to the World Cup, but the boys will still be in the hospital.
The hospital said the boys will be able to watch the Final on TV on Sunday.
)
The Thai governor also said the boys will serve as monks for a time, after leaving the hospital.
Reportedly, their coach kept them calm until they had been found by having them meditate.
He is a former Buddhist monk. He had taught the boys to meditate before games to conserve energy.
The coach is reported the last rescued. He was seen shivering & probably suffering from hypothermia when he got out of the cave.