Thai cave rescue: Former Navy SEAL working to rescue boys dies from lack of oxygen

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Thai authorities say a former Navy SEAL working to rescue the boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave died from lack of oxygen.

Key points: Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan was a former Navy SEAL

He was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission

He passed out while underwater and efforts to resuscitate him failed

Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan, a former member of Thailand's elite Navy SEAL unit who was part of the rescue team in Chiang Rai, died on Thursday night after entering the cave to lay oxygen tanks along a potential exit route, the SEAL commander said.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference on Friday morning the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters.

The ABC understands he was diving late at night to get to the chamber where the boys are trapped.

Petty Officer Saman, 38, set out at 8:37pm local time to deliver three oxygen tanks from chamber three to where the boys and their coach are located.

He completed his task but on the way back lost consciousness. His diving partner performed CPR but was unable to revive him.

Petty Officer Saman was brought to chamber three but was pronounced dead about 1:00am (local time) on Friday.

He is one of about 80 Thai Navy SEALs. They make up the bulk of the divers that are running the rescue effort.

Rear Admiral Arpakorn said despite the tragedy, the rescuers "will continue until we accomplish our mission".

"In that 1,700-metre section [it] is very treacherous," he said.

"Last night's operation was to bring the oxygen tanks to the mound, which should take about five to six hours each way, so altogether it takes about 12 hours.

"This is what we train for, this is what we have to face, an incident like this can always happen but we're not losing our motivation.

"We won't let the life lost be wasted."

He said Thailand's King had ordered a royally-endorsed funeral ceremony.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Rescuers pump water and drill rock inside cave where Thai boys are trapped (ABC News)

Petty Officer Saman was a former clearance diver for the Navy SEALs, and Thai media has reported he was more recently working in a security role at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23.

A navy source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the ABC three factors were driving the urgency — the water level inside the cave, the amount of oxygen available, and the health of the boys and their coach.

"The pressure we are experiencing comes from working against the weather, as the forecasts tell us there will be heavy rain in this area within 48 hours," he said.

The soccer team was trapped in a cave system known as Tham Luang, surviving for nine days before rescue divers found them on a muddy ledge.

The navy source said two of the boys were in a weaker condition, as was the 25-year-old coach, who sacrificed his share of their meagre food supplies to give to the boys.

The source said rescue coordinators faced tough choices and there were differences of opinion among those providing assessments.

ABC, wires

Topics: disasters-and-accidents, floods, accidents, thailand

First posted</s>A Thai navy diver working as part of the effort to rescue a dozen boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded cave has died from a lack of oxygen.

Samarn Kunan, a former Thai SEAL, was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters.

Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said while underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate the 38-year-old failed.

‘Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,’ Mr Arpakorn said.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where the boys and their coach have been trapped since June 23, before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.

Yesterday Chiang Rai provincial Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn said he asked the SEALs in charge of extraction plans to estimate what sort of a risk would be involved to bring out the boys and their coach even though they weren’t 100% ready for a risky dive.

Diving experts have warned they dont think all the boys will survive the efforts to remove them because of the dangers and had advised waiting until October when they will be able to float or even walk out.

However, officials would prefer to get the boys out as soon as possible because heavy rain expected by Saturday almost surely will raise water levels again in the cave, making passage in some areas even more difficult, if not impossible.

They are hoping that an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling.

The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water.

‘We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because the circumstance is pressuring us,’ Mr Arpakorn said.

‘We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time but circumstances have changed. We have limited amount of time.’

The governor has said the 13 may not be extracted at the same time, depending on their condition.

They’ve practised wearing diving masks and breathing, in preparation for the diving possibility.

The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the northern province after a football game on June 23.

Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for nine days.

The boys, although skinny, have been described as in good health.

Authorities have said the players are being looked after by Thai navy SEALs, including medics, staying with them inside the cave.

Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are, and wait for the flooding to subside.

That could take months, however, given that Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts through until October.

There are also hopes they could be airlifted to safety if they can find an area where they can drill through the mountain down to them.</s>MAE SAI, THAILAND—A Thai navy diver working as part of the effort to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave died Friday from lack of oxygen, underscoring risks of extracting the team. The rescuer, a former Thai SEAL, was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters, Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference.

He said while underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed. “Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,” Arpakorn said. Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.

Officials prefer to get the boys out as soon as possible because heavy rain expected by Saturday almost surely will raise water levels again in the cave, making passage in some areas even more difficult, if not impossible. They are hoping that an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling. The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water. “We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because the circumstance is pressuring us,” Arpakorn said. “We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time but circumstances have changed. We have limited amount of time.”

The governor has said the 13 may not be extracted at the same time, depending on their condition. They’ve practiced wearing diving masks and breathing, in preparation for the diving possibility. The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the northern province after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for nine days. The boys, although skinny, have been described as in good health. Authorities have said the soccer players are being looked after by Thai navy SEALs, including medics, staying with them inside the cave. Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are, and wait for the flooding to subside. That could take months, however, given that Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts through October. Experienced divers are wary of taking out the boys through the dark and dangerous waters still in the cave, especially since they are untrained.</s>MAE SAI, THAILAND—Authorities overseeing the rescue operation for 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand said they have a “limited amount of time” to get them out, as they raced against worsening weather and lessening oxygen underground. The massive operation inside and around Tham Luang Nang Non cave suffered its first death Friday when a former Thai navy SEAL passed out underwater and could not be revived.

“We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because circumstances are pressuring us,” Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference. “We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time, but circumstances have changed. We have limited amount of time.” Oxygen levels are decreasing because of the amount of workers inside the cave and workers were trying to run an oxygen line into the chambers in addition to the oxygen canisters used by divers, Chiang Rai province Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said late Thursday. A senior army commander, Maj. Gen. Chalongchai Chaiyakam, said the most pressing mission is the oxygen line. It is tied to a telephone line to provide a channel of communication for the kids, who are stuck deep in the complex but are being looked after by four SEALs, including a medic.

The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days as the only way to reach them was by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents. Authorities have been racing to pump out water from the cave before more storms in the coming days raise the water levels again. At this time though, diving is the only possible method of escape, even though cave rescue experts warn it is extremely dangerous even for those with experience. Man working to rescue Thai boys trapped in cave dead from lack of oxygen, authorities say Thai rescuers race to drain water inside cave where boys are trapped before heavy rains

New video from cave shows Thai boys laughing with rescuers, saying they’re healthy Friday’s death of the former SEAL underscores those risks. The diver was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters along the route divers use to get to the children, Arpakorn said.

The strategically placed canisters allow divers to stay underwater for longer during what is about a five-hour trip to reach the stranded team. While underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed, Arpakorn said. Another navy official said he didn’t believe the man’s oxygen tank ran out. “Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,” Arpakorn said.

The governor has said the 13 may not be extracted at the same time, depending on their condition. They boys are weak but for the most part physically healthy. They’ve practiced wearing diving masks and breathing, in preparation for the diving possibility. Officials prefer to get the boys out as soon as possible because heavy rain is expected by Saturday. They are hoping that an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling. The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water. Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are, and wait for the flooding to subside. That could take months, however, given that Thailand’s rainy season typically lasts through October. And without proper oxygen levels, staying put could also prove deadly.</s>Thai authorities say a former navy SEAL working to rescue boys trapped in cave has died from lack of oxygen.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference Friday morning that the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters.

The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach disappeared after they went exploring in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in northern Chiang Rai province after a soccer game June 23. The teammates, who were trapped inside when heavy rains flooded the cave, were found by rescue divers Monday night during a desperate search that drew assistance from experts around the globe.

While efforts to pump out floodwaters are continuing, some Thai officials have indicated that heavy rains forecast for this weekend could force them to decide the boys should swim and dive out using the same complicated route of narrow passageways through which their rescuers entered.

Authorities said they were still exploring other options, such as scouring the mountainside for other ways into the cave and finding faster ways to pump water from the cave.

Rescue workers work on the water pumping machine at the entrance of Tham Luang Nang Non cave on July 2, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images)

Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are for now, and wait for the water to go down. That could take months, however, given that Thailand's rainy season typically lasts through October.

Experienced divers are wary of taking out the boys through the dark and dangerous waters still in the cave, especially since they are untrained.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>An ex-Thai Navy SEAL diver died Friday morning as he took up efforts to help rescue a group of boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave in the Tham Luang Nang Non complex.

The ex-Navy SEAL was identified as 38-year-old Samarn Kunan and he died while placing oxygen tanks in the cave, The Guardian reported.

More to come.</s>Thai authorities are still working to save a group of schoolboys and their teacher trapped in a cave, before heavy monsoon rains hit this weekend. The boys have been reached and supplied with food and water to keep them healthy before a rescue attempt can take place. Thai navy seals are working to help the boys dive through the flooded cave system. Other eventualities are being planned for. Sadly, one rescuer has already given his life to help the boys, as a navy diver died from lack of oxygen during the efforts.

How did the boys become trapped in the cave? The trapped group is made up of boys aged 11 to 16, who are with their 25-year-old football coach. After a football game on June 23, the boys and their coach were exploring the nearby Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai. Since their discovery the group have been cared for by members of the Thai Navy SEALS, among them medical experts.

The system is incredibly hard to navigate due to its complex mass of interlinking chambers, many of which are submerged in water. To make matters worse, medics determined two of the boys and their coach are medically exhausted due to lack of food, and at the moment are unable to escape. Instead, Thai SEALs are continuing to supply the cavern with oxygen, and food will continue to be delivered until the group can be freed. The group will need to be freed before this Sunday, when predicted monsoon conditions will hit for nearly a week of non-stop rains, filling the caves.

How will the boys be rescued? So far, the main method authorities are working on is to deliver diving equipment to the boys, before teaching them how to use it. Each boy will then be attached to a single diver, and be guided out of the caves, using rope and occasional pit-stops to stock up on oxygen. Officials are also currently combing the ground above the caves with the help of bird watchers - experts at finding covered ground entries - to find a way into the cave from above. Drilling an opening from above would allow rescuers to pull out the group without tracking through the dark, water-filled cave system.</s>Rescuers are pumping millions of litres of water out of the cave network to try and rescue the group through nearly a mile of tunnels before forecasted heavy rains move in on Saturday. A former Thai Navy diver, Saman Gunan, lost consciousness on his way out of the Tham Luang cave complex, where he had been delivering air tanks. The boys, aged between 11-16, have been trapped inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai since June 23. What are the options for rescuing the boys? One of the options being considered by authorities is bringing the boys out before the rains come.

Rescuers have looked into fitting them with full-face oxygen masks and accompanying them on a long, dangerous swim through the tunnels. However, some of the boys do not know how to swim, let alone dive and cave diving is incredibly dangerous even for people who are experienced doing it. Another option, is to try to reach the football team from above and teams have recruited bird-watchers to search for small areas from the sky. Teams have been searching jungle-covered mountainsides in search of openings or natural chimneys which may lead to a small, dry mud-covered incline where the boys and their coach remain perched over water.

Rescue teams thrashed through dense forest hundreds of metres above the cave complex on Friday. Thanes Weerasiri, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand said: “We want to find the way down. I believe we are close.” Helicopters were seen searching for an alternate extraction route from overheard. Chalongchai Chaiyakum, a senior Thai army officer, said that one team travelled some 300 metres down a shaft on the hill on Thursday until they reached a dead end.

He said that up to 200 people are exploring the hill to try to find a workable shaft. The last option is to wait until the flood waters subside after the monsoon season. Seal commander Mr Yookongkaew has stressed to a press conference on Friday that “things have changed” and there is only a “limited amount of time” to rescue the boys. Thai officials are racing against worsening weather but also lowered oxygen levels in the underground complex in the north of the country.</s>MAE SAI, Thailand — A former Thai navy SEAL working as part of the effort to rescue a soccer team trapped in a cave died Friday from lack of oxygen, authorities said.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference Friday morning that the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters. He said while underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

"Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission," Arpakorn said.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.

A firefighter who has been working on draining the water said parts of a passage leading to the chamber where the group was found Monday was still flooded to its ceiling, making diving the only way out.

"What we worry most is the weather," Chiang Rai provincial Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn told reporters. "We can't risk having the flood back into the cave."

The boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the northern province after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for 10 days. The boys, although skinny, have been described as in good health. Authorities have said the soccer players are being looked after by Thai navy SEALs, including medics, staying with them inside the cave.

Narongsak said he asked the SEALs in charge of extraction plans to estimate what sort of a risk would be involved to take them out and "what kind of readiness we can have today and decide if we can take that chance." He said the 13 may not be extracted at the same time, depending on their condition. They've practiced wearing diving masks and breathing, in preparation for the possibility they may have to dive.

"This morning, I have asked for 13 sets of [diving] equipment to be prepared and checked the equipment lists and place them inside (the cave) in case we have to bring them out in this condition with less than 100 percent readiness," he said.

Officials prefer to get the boys out as soon as possible because heavy rain expected by Saturday almost surely will raise water levels again in the cave, making passage in some areas even more difficult, if not impossible.

They are hoping that an upgraded draining effort can lower the water in an area where it is still at or near the ceiling. The idea is to get some headroom so the boys would not be reliant on scuba apparatus for a long stretch and could keep their heads above water.

The navy has released videos of the boys, showing them smiling and interacting with the personnel sent into the cave to bring supplies, treat their injuries and keep them company.

One Thai navy SEAL team member who spent time with the boys said the young soccer players "were always asking about the World Cup." ''I told them that all the big teams had gone home," the navy SEAL member said.

Seeing the boys has boosted the mood of their family members, and officials are working to install an internet cable to the cave so that parents can talk to their children.

Kian Kamluang, whose 16-year-old son, Pornchai, is in the cave, said she had thought there was a 50 percent chance that her son would be found.

"It's like he has been given a new life," she said, adding that she'll never let her son go into a cave or near water again.

Cave rescue experts have said it could be safest to simply supply the boys where they are, and wait for the flooding to subside. That could take months, however, given that Thailand's rainy season typically lasts through October.

Experienced divers are wary of taking out the boys through the dark and dangerous waters still in the cave, especially since they are untrained.

"We are talking kilometers of transport under the water with zero visibility," said Claus Rasmusen, a certified cave diving instructor based in Thailand who has been helping Thai SEAL team with logistics. "It's difficult."

He said it was awkward, but possible, to teach them minimal skills.

"Nobody will teach anyone a full cave course, but trying to get them comfortable with masks, with the breathing, (is) completely different," he said. "Creating an environment that can make them safely get away, that's feasible."</s>Thai cave rescue: Navy SEAL working to rescue boys dies from lack of oxygen

Thai authorities say a Navy SEAL working to rescue the boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave has died from lack of oxygen.

Samarn Poonan, a former member of Thailand's elite navy SEAL unit who was part of the rescue team in Chiang Rai, died on Thursday night after entering the cave to lay oxygen tanks along a potential exit route, the SEAL commander said.

SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew told a news conference on Friday morning the rescuer was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters.

The ABC understands he was diving late last night to get to the chamber where the boys are trapped.

Mr Poonan was found by his dive buddy unconscious. He was pulled out and CPR was applied at the scene to revive him.

He was taken to hospital but died around 1:00am (local time).

He is one of about 80 Thai navy SEALs, they make up the bulk of the divers that are running the rescue effort.

Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from a flooded cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23.

More to come.
A former UDAU diver dies from lack of oxygen while delivering supplies to a group of boys and a man trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non.