Thai cave rescue movie released

Thirteen Lives, which chronicles the events of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, is being released in select cinemas today (July 29, 2022), by United Artists Releasing, before streaming on Prime Video on August 5. The movie is directed and produced by Ron Howard.

Dive Industry News and Matters

The rescue mission in Thailand where a group of experienced cave divers miraculously retrieved a group of young boys and their soccer coach which were trapped in the system of underground caves as they became flooded, should be well known to readers of this magazine as we covered it extensively at the time. 

Thai Cave Rescuer hosts fundraising film evening

One of the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue divers - Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris - is hosting a fundraising evening in February 2022.

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Dive Industry News and Matters

The award-winning cave diver (2017 OZTek Technical Diver of the Year, 2018 EUROTEK Outstanding Achievement Award) is inviting you to watch 'The Rescue' film at the Regal Theatre in Adelaide, Australia on Friday 25 February. 

I invite everyone in Adelaide to this viewing of The Rescue. Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris

Rick Stanton presented with Explorers Club 'Chapter Coin'

The Great Britain and Ireland Chapter of the Explorers Club recently presented cave explorer Rick Stanton, MBE, GM with a 'Chapter Coin', in recognition of the role he played in the 2018 Thai cave rescue.

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Dive Industry News and Matters
Explorers Club Great Britain & Ireland Chapter

100 of these coins have been especially crafted for the chapter.

The GB&I Chapter Coin is given to inspiring individuals and those who have contributed to exploration in extraordinary ways. Mark Wood, explorer

Polar explorer Mark Wood stated "As Chair of the Great Britain and Ireland Chapter I'm in a privileged position to meet some extraordinary people through my work. I had the honour of presenting Rick Stanton with the Chapter Coin."

Books & Media

Thirteen lessons that saved thirteen lives

'In his new book, Thirteen Lessons That Saved Thirteen Lives, John reveals the nail-biting moments that left him preparing for the worst - from sedating the boys with ketamine to the exhausting swim for survival...He tells of the operation in heart-stopping detail, while also sharing the coping techniques he employed which can be used in everyday life.' - Daily Mirror

Author(s):
John Volanthen
'Thirteen Lessons' was published on 1 June 2021, in hardback form | Price £20
Books
John Volanthen

In this first-hand account, John Volanthen reveals how he pushed the limits of human endurance in the life-or-death mission to rescue the Thai youth soccer team trapped in the flooded cave.

The world held its breath in 2018 when the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach went missing deep underground in the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand. They had been stranded by sudden, continuous monsoon rains while exploring the caves after practice.

X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

Getting the Boys Out: Tham Luang Cave Rescue

On Saturday, 23 June 2018, a football team of boys in Thailand, aged 11 to 16, finished practice under the watchful eye of their 25-year-old coach, Ekkapol Chantawong. The group then cycled to and entered a popular tourist attraction, Tham Luang Cave. Some of the boys had never visited it before and were curious to know what it looked like. They explored the cave for about an hour before turning around and retraced their steps. They could not get out. At around 9:00 p.m., Sungwut Kummongkol, leader of the Mae Sai Rescue Unit Team, received a call that some of the children had disappeared. It prompted a search to begin.

Words:
Rosemary E. Lunn
Images:
Download the full article as pdf ⬇︎
Tech and Training

At 10:00 p.m., Kummongkol led the first responders into the cave. The team of 14 local rescue workers set up a light and found the boys’ bicycles and sports equipment, which had been left near the entrance to the cave.

British caver Rob Harper is thanked and honoured by Thailand

On Tuesday 26 June 2018 the British Cave Rescue Council received a request from Thai authorities asking for specialist help. Less than 12 hours later Rob Harper flew out of London Heathrow with fellow cavers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen bound for Thailand.

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Dive Industry News and Matters

It has now been confirmed that Rob Harper has returned to the UK for a medical appointment.

When Harper arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport to fly back to the UK, he received a VIP welcome and escort. He was warmly greeted by several Thai officials including the Minister for Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat.

The Minister presented a Certification of Appreciation to Rob Harper on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Kind heart. Fierce mind. Brave spirit.

Thailand Cave Rescue: Brit cave divers report "gnarly diving"

On Saturday 23 June 2018 the 'Wild Boars' football team finished football practice under the watchful eye of their 25-year-old coach, Ekkapol Chantawong. The group then cycled to and entered a popular tourist attraction, Tham Luang Cave. Some of the boys (aged 11 to 16) had never visited it before and were curious to know what it looked like. They explored the cave for about an hour before turning around and retraced their steps. They couldn’t get out.

Tech and Training

The Cave

This cave system runs for many miles underground and is explorable from November to June. It is prone to seasonal flooding during the monsoon months: June to October. Apparently there are warning signs discouraging visits during the rainy season.

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The moment the group are found

This is the transcript of the conversation between Rick Stanton, John Volanthen and the trapped children.

John: How many of you [are there]?

Children: Thirteen

John: Thirteen? Brilliant!

John: There's two of us.... we had to dive.

John: We're coming, it's ok. Many people are coming. We are the first.

Children ask what day it is

John: Monday. One week and Monday. You have been here 10 days. You are very strong, very strong.

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