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(102,292 posts)How A Former Monk, 25, Kept Boys Trapped Inside Thai Cave Alive
Ekapol Chanthawong left his life in the monkhood and joined the Wild Boars as an assistant coach.
The head coach of the Thai soccer team spent the morning of June 23 preparing his young assistant for an important task: looking out for the boys by himself.
Nopparat Khanthavong, the 37-year-old head coach of the Moo Pa (Wild Boars) soccer team, had an appointment that morning. Ekapol Chanthawong, his assistant, was to take the younger boys to a soccer field nestled by the Doi Nang Non mountain range, a formation with numerous waterfalls and caves that straddles the Thai-Myanmar border.--snip--
As the rush to figure out how to rescue the group continues some have chided Ekapol for leading the team into the cave. A large warning sign at the cave's entrance raises the risk of entering so close to the monsoon season, they say, and he should have known better.
But for many in Thailand, Ekapol, who left his life in the monkhood three years ago and joined the Wild Boars as an assistant coach soon after, is an almost divine force, sent to protect the boys as they go through this ordeal. A widely shared cartoon drawing of Ekapol shows him sitting cross-legged, as a monk does in meditation, with 12 little wild boars in his arms.
According to rescue officials, he is among the weakest in the group, in part because he gave the boys his share of the limited food and water they had with them in the early days. He also taught the boys how to meditate and how to conserve as much energy as possible until they were found. --more--
I read the article but for some reason it would not let me copy and paste.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)that they were in there.
They left their bikes at the entrance and descended deep into the cave. The sign nearby warning that venturing inside during the wet season was dangerous because of the risk of sudden flooding meant little this was a place they knew and loved.
They were a motley mob hill tribe lads, Shan, Lahu and Lua, plus a couple of Lanna Thai (boys from the north) on a boys own adventure. But their little journey of exploration was badly timed. A torrential downpour, hardly surprising at this time of year rudu fon (rainy season) has left them in a dire predicament.
Family members raised the alarm later that day. Where were they?
Their parents concern drove their coach 25-year-old Ekapol Jantawong, a stateless orphan who shared their love of football, to the cave. Near the entrance, he found their bikes, a discovery that meant he had to go deep inside to try to locate them and bring them back.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/world/thai-cave-rescue-how-the-cave-nightmare-began-ng-b88889337z
moriah
(8,311 posts)<snip>
The older Wild Boars were due to play a match on the Saturday evening, and when they didnt return home their anxious parents began calling Mr Nopparat.
One 13-year-old who went home after training told the head coach the team had gone exploring in Tham Luang.
When Mr Nopparat got to the site, all he could find were the boys bicycles and bags at the caves mouth.
So there were two coaches, at least according to this article. The younger one was the assistant, and the older one was the one who received calls from worried parents.
Sadly in breaking news events not all sources are accurate. I don't know which is the accurate version.
I think they certainly aren't going to condemn someone who has been trying to keep their children sane, they're glad some adult is with them. And I completely understand being grateful if my child was trapped somewhere they weren't completely without some guardian figure. So I get the people whose opinions in this matter most not wanting him castigated for a mistake.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)came after them.
I agree -- these discrepancies are so common in initial news accounts. It usually takes a few days after a crisis to shake out the facts.
Maraya1969
(22,483 posts)the adults would have allowed it especially as they would know the dangers of monsoon season. It sounds like the coach is a real hero.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)to have given them some free-time alone.
mythology
(9,527 posts)He is responsible for the problem in the first place.
Nitram
(22,822 posts)It was an unseasonably early and plentiful deluge. He took the boys on an adventure. It has happened to boys in the Southwest when a heavy rain flooded a canyon, boys have been killed in avalanches of snow, boys have died when a clear blue day on the ocean in a sailboat unexpectedly came up a gale within minutes. If he made a mistake, it was a taking them too far into the cave.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)Don't they have weather reports in Thailand?
I've never been there.
pnwmom
(108,980 posts)that they hadn't come out.
At least, according to this report.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/world/thai-cave-rescue-how-the-cave-nightmare-began-ng-b88889337z
Its two weeks ago now since it all began. The boys, aged 11 to 16, rode their bikes down to the cave and spent 700 baht ($28) at the local shop, buying food, soft drink and sweets.
They left their bikes at the entrance and descended deep into the cave. The sign nearby warning that venturing inside during the wet season was dangerous because of the risk of sudden flooding meant little this was a place they knew and loved.
Rescue on for trapped Thai cave boys
They were a motley mob hill tribe lads, Shan, Lahu and Lua, plus a couple of Lanna Thai (boys from the north) on a boys own adventure. But their little journey of exploration was badly timed. A torrential downpour, hardly surprising at this time of year rudu fon (rainy season) has left them in a dire predicament.
Family members raised the alarm later that day. Where were they?
Their parents concern drove their coach 25-year-old Ekapol Jantawong, a stateless orphan who shared their love of football, to the cave. Near the entrance, he found their bikes, a discovery that meant he had to go deep inside to try to locate them and bring them back.
womanofthehills
(8,718 posts)Everyone in the town was aware of the dangers. It can rain anytime.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)No doubt, the parents of the children will giggle at the irrelevance of finger-pointing this late in the game. If we can't laugh with them, at least we have the satisfaction of them laughing at us.
I notice a pattern, too. I'm never surprised to see who makes such judgments.
Hav
(5,969 posts)But it's not only about ignoring what he did afterwards, it's also ignoring or being ignorant about the unlucky circumstances and weather conditions that led to all of this. The cave where they are right now wasn't their target, it where they fled to.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)of judgment that could have been fatal to children.
Now if we can just get Trump to get the children that he "kidnapped" here back to their mothers.
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)As a monk he does take responsibility. Your judgement of a human mistake shows you are as close minded as the Trump base. Ugh!
ADX
(1,622 posts)According to this account you're as wrong as wrong can be:
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/world/thai-cave-rescue-how-the-cave-nightmare-began-ng-b88889337z
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)ADX
(1,622 posts)...thanks for starting the thread...
Ferrets are Cool
(21,107 posts)Justice
(7,188 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)sheshe2
(83,791 posts)This
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/world/thai-cave-rescue-how-the-cave-nightmare-began-ng-b88889337z
I have read in more place that the boys planned the hike as a birthday celebration.
Yeesh.
Little Star
(17,055 posts)The boys, aged 11 to 16, rode their bikes down to the cave and spent 700 baht ($28) at the local shop, buying food, soft drink and sweets.
They were a motley mob hill tribe lads, Shan, Lahu and Lua, plus a couple of Lanna Thai (boys from the north) on a boys own adventure.
They left their bikes at the entrance and descended deep into the cave.
Family members raised the alarm later that day. Where were they?
Their parents concern drove their coach 25-year-old Ekapol Jantawong, a stateless orphan who shared their love of football, to the cave. Near the entrance, he found their bikes
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)have wandered into the cave with his team that fateful day, and HE KNOWS IT.
But I love this man and I thank this man - he made an innocent, unthinking mistake that anyone, myself included, could have easily made in a spur of the moment decision that brought them all enormous suffering and incomprehensible panic and fear.
But Mr. Chanthawong has taken utterly perfect care of his young wards, which I could never do in a thousand years, and I LOVE HIM for looking after these youngsters with such tender warmth and strength.
RESPECT
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)He also sent a letter out saying he would take care of them and apologized. As a former monk he also taught them all to meditate to stay calm and focused. Now he is the weakest among them and may not survive the trip out.
Thanks, leghorn.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)Maybe - and I can only hope, along with everyone else - but maybe they can get him out along with the remaining four boys, which I assume they will try again tonight (about midnight ET)...? And they are getting a little faster at retrieving the kids now, so...maybe by this time tomorrow ALL the poor dears will be on the road to recovery -
And this is very promising:
The retrievals are getting faster: "Our rescuers can [now]
shorten the operation time by two hours," he says. "Over
100 including 18 international cave divers took part in todays
operation." #thamluangcave
Link to tweet
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Thanks for that tweet, the fact they have shortened the retrieval is such good news.
I haven't read that his life is in danger, just all the news that it would be difficult for even a healthy person to make it through. I wish them godspeed.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)OH!
calimary
(81,322 posts)They have to get the rest of them out of there soon, before more serious rains start.
Im actually kinda surprised that some scuba diving companies wouldnt be rushing to donate more full oxygen tanks. Lots of volunteers in the operation are underground, using oxygen too. The delay in the rescue efforts so they can refill the oxygen tanks really worries me. Its a critical race against time, and the full brunt of Monsoon Season.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)calimary
(81,322 posts)I, too, was wondering what-the-hell were they doing so far up in that damn cave! But as a mom, myself, it does make sense that some frisky soccer kids would want to explore, especially as they're smaller in stature at their age, and they'd think nothing of scrambling up into crannies and crevasses and other tight places where it might not be a good idea to explore. We always had to be extra vigilant at Cub Scout camp outs, especially with one or two resolute little renegades in the group.
MichMary
(1,714 posts)by the space they take up, rather than their availability.
tblue37
(65,408 posts)the ones used during the rescue. It is very slow and dangerous work to place the full tanks along the escape route. In fact, it was while placing oxygen tanks along the route that the retired Thai Navy SEAL volunteer lost consciousness and died.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Have to remember total O2 supply in cave was dipping low, so every action leading to the start of the rescue had to weigh/consider this, nothing could be 'inefficient'. They also had to get food to the kids, and install roping. There was much to do in preparation, and not a lot of O2 to do it with.
Plus they didn't know how long it'd be before rains became an issue again.
So, they got as many tanks 'staged' along the route as they could before beginning the operation, but didn't have time to stage enough for all the 'participants', for all the operation, ahead of time. Thus they have to stage some more in the middle of the operation.
Another important point ... takes >1 tank per person for the operation (esp. the rescuers as they have to go 2x as far), and the kids of course need tanks brought to them ... hence the need for staging of tanks along the route.
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)pnwmom
(108,980 posts)top condition did die.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)watch over them.
Not all of the team went to the cave after practice, one went home.
Coach Ek is actually the assistant coach, when the head coach talked to the one that went home and found that they had gone to the caves he went over to catch up with them and found that they were caught off, and reported it to the officials. This is how they got such a quick start on the rescue.
More on the coach here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210846882
uponit7771
(90,347 posts)... caught in the cave with them.
Also there was a warning sign from July to Nov for the rainy season and they went in June 23
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349417
The warning sign in front of the cave cautioned visitors against entering the cave during the rainy season from July to November. The team went in on June 23. It was not their first visit.
Do you have an link to another account?
thx in advance
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)I have no link, as my post is, at best, a shaky version of what happened that day - apologies
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)It's important that everyone learn from this mistake.
Being a good, loving person does not prevent us from making mistakes.
He should have checked the weather reports before venturing into the cave. Let that be a lesson to all spelunkers.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)what happened.
Nitram
(22,822 posts)watch over them in their hour of need. I would not blame him for taking the boys on an adventure like that. Live your whole life in fear and you experience nothing. I appreciate that my parents allowed me to experience such things.
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Nitram
(22,822 posts)and do not for a moment blame their coach, make quite a contrast to Americans who separate children from their parents and are so quick to point the finger of blame.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,653 posts)The coach blaming almost brought me to tears. So quick to judgment without the necessary information and a broader perspective.
Iggo
(47,558 posts)And yes, it's sad.
Iggo
(47,558 posts)Go Thailand!
Gothmog
(145,321 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)sheshe2
(83,791 posts)wonkwest
(463 posts)Which relieved me greatly.
Here in America, I've heard more than a few blaming him. One guy said in front of a group of us yesterday, "They should just leave him in there."
It was a horrible accident brought by a quirk of Mother Nature. He kept those boys calm, sacrificed his health and well-being, and kept them alive.
He is going to feel horrible anguish when he learns that Saman Kunan died.
If he came out to learn that, and then received a wave of hate, it would be a cruel fate. People have killed themselves over things like that. I hope he receives nothing but overwhelming gratitude and love when he emerges.
colorado_ufo
(5,734 posts)He must pass through a 15 inch wide underwater channel to get out. If he is too large to fit through, then he is likely already in his tomb.
We don't know the full story. That far in, they could have gotten lost, or one of the boys became lost, and they all went to look for him. We should rush less to judgment and more to care and forgiveness.
Those who believe in prayer should remember him in those prayers.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)That will not be an issue. Let us not put someone in his tomb prematurely.
wonkwest
(463 posts)Media reports I've read said he's lost a significant amount of weight after giving all his food to the children for nine days. That's why he's considered the weakest person in there.
Plus, and I know I'm stereotyping a bit, being Thai, he's probably more on the smaller side to begin with. While there are exceptions, all my Thai friends tend to be shorter and thinner on average.
I think he'll fit just fine. I mean, they did get in there after all.
colorado_ufo
(5,734 posts)I don't know if they got in by the same route, but hopefully the food the divers brought will help strengthen him.
rurallib
(62,423 posts)along with those divers. Bravery and sacrifice.
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)May the rest come out safely. The kids, coach, and divers.
7962
(11,841 posts)It came together very fast & looks like its working very well too. I dont remember how many countries are involved but its several. I saw an interview with a USAF member before the rescue started & she was giving a good update.
mcar
(42,334 posts)Blessings on him, the boys and the rescue workers.
Cha
(297,322 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,734 posts)This may well be the greatest thing they will ever do in their lives, and they have spent their lives preparing for this moment. The techniques devised may help many more people in the future.
Also, a "thank you" to Elon Musk for contributing his efforts. Good, caring man.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)Welcome home boys reads this billboard in Chiang Rai,
Thailand. Photo taken by Reuters @tendailyau #tennews
#ThaiCaveRescue #ThamLuangCave
Link to tweet
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)SO FREAKIN INSPIRING
Thank you, sheshe.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)#Thailandcave where the kids are being rescued. Hes
bright his mini sub with him, and plan to leave it here for
the future just in case! Incredible! #TenNews #ThamLuangCave
Elon Musk
✔
@elonmusk
Just returned from Cave 3. Mini-sub is ready if needed.
It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids
soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the
future. Thailand is so beautiful.
Link to tweet
OH HELL YEAH
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)He is helping at his own expense. This is wonderful.
The 'Resident of the United States barely mentioned the boys until a few days later.
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)https://mobile.twitter.com/yayqe
https://mobile.twitter.com/danielsutton10
Daniel Sutton, in fact, just posted this:
Interesting side note: tents used to accommodate
volunteers and media at #ThaiCaveRescue have all been
donated by families who have lost a loved one. This guy
was just 21. A bit like park benches in Australia.
Link to tweet
The divers wont actually be going in for (I imagine) another 2-3 hours, but this beautiful, dedicated army of frickin saviors is gathering together now after resting a bit today...
Deep breaths...steady as she goes, my friend
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)sheshe2
(83,791 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)But shaving two hours off their rescue time is just so encouraging!!
I just found this fellow, hes tweeting away:
https://mobile.twitter.com/SaksithCNA
Oh, I came upon this photo of Saman Gunan today:
--Please continue to watch over all our dedicated cave people, dear sir-
sheshe2
(83,791 posts)I would guess their health as well. They were evaluated by a doctor in the beginning and left for last to eat and regain strength. I can't remember his name yet he remained with them to assist.
Tomorrow, Leghorn.
PS: The picture of Saman says it all, an extraordinary man. Rest in peace, Saman.
Tomorrow.
Raine
(30,540 posts)I hope that he is recognized for his heroism.