Thai cave rescue: Engineers test PIPE to save trapped boys in fear drive could fail
THAI cave rescue volunteers are trialling an alternative plans to retrieve the boys in case current efforts to dive to freedom fail.
Thai cave rescue: Eighth boy recovered from cave
He and his daughter Sthpanik are currently testing whether the pipe is tough enough to cope with the many sharp rocks which are a feature of the winding subterranean passages of the Than Luang caves.
Sthpanik, said: “We are only a plan C or a plan D.
The ‘Wild Boars’ team of 12 boys, all of whom are aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach had been trapped in caves under Doi Nang Non mountain since June 23.
Nine days later they were found to be huddled on a ledge in a flooded chamber deep inside the caves, approximately half a mile below the surface.
However, with Thailand in the midst of the monsoon season and further rains forecast in the next few days, the pressure is on to get the remainder out.
If needed, Mr Pairojana’s tubing would be dragged into the caves and inflated by a huge fan at the cave’s mouth.
Yesterday, he and his daughter tested it by laying it out in a canal gushing with water which was being pumped out of the caves.
They also ran it through storm drains and around tight bends in order to simulate conditions within the caves.
Sthpanik said she and her father had been working alongside divers who escorted the first four boys to safety.
She added: “They went in to do their job today.
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“But they told us to hang around and keep testing the tube in case plan A and B are unsuccessful.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has also been testing equipment aimed at rescuing the remaining eight children and their teacher.
Yesterday he tweeted footage on a submarine-like vessel being tested in a swimming pool.
He posted: “Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull.
“Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust.”