‘. . . there was another little-known plan underway . . .’: Suttisak Soralump.
16 Politics
Governor Narongsak: Teeranai Charuvastra, ‘Cave rescue saves Governor’s job – at least for now’, 4 July http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/07/04/cave-rescue-saves-governors-job-at-least-for-now/ (accessed 16 August, 2018); ‘Prayut insists popular Chiang Rai governor will be transferred’, 3 July 2018, http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prayut-insists-popular-chiang-rai-governor-will-transferred/ (accessed 16 August, 2018).
‘One palm tree cost A$11,000 . . .’: Liam Cochrane, ‘Thailand’s military launches second probe into corruption allegations over royal statues’, 29 November 2015 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-28/thai-military-launches-second-probe-into-statues/6983206 (accessed 16 August 2018).
‘A later inquiry found ‘irregularities . . .’: Andrew RC Marshall, Patpicha Tanakasempipat, ‘Thai inquiry finds “irregularities” in controversial military park’, 30 December 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-corruption-idUSKBN0UD0T920151230 (accessed 16 August 2018).
‘Interior Minister Gen Anupong Phaochinda hinted . . .’: ‘Prayut insists popular Chiang Rai governor will be transferred’, 3 July 2018, http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prayut-insists-popular-chiang-rai-governor-will-transferred/ (accessed 16 August, 2018).
‘Instructions were given by the King . . .’: Wassana Nanuam & Apinya Wipatayotin, ‘King urges speedy rescue from cave’, Bangkok Post, 5 July 2018, p 1.
‘. . . estimated to be worth upwards of US$30 billion . . .’: ‘Thai king takes control of some [US]$30bn crown assets’, BBC, 16 June 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44507590.
Lèse-majesté: ‘Lese-majeste explained: How Thailand forbids insult of its royalty’, BBC, 6 October 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29628191.
17 The Little things
‘Only one boy didn’t take part . . .’: interview with the Wild Boars, American Broadcasting Corporation on 22 August 2018, Mae Sai.
‘. . . the most handsome one in the cave . . .’: quotes from Sending the Wild Boars Home press conference, op cit.
18 Crunch time
‘Around forty full-face masks . . .’: Ruengrit Changkwanyuen (Pae).
Quotes from Craig Challen: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘I just feel at home in a sense,’: ‘Take a dive with the Wet Mules’, ABC, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-12/cave-diving-with-the-wet-mules/10090126.
Material about the Wet Mules: http://www.wetmules.com (accessed 21 August 2018).
‘We do have a saying . . .’: Rebecca Turner, ‘Thai cave rescue: At the heart of the operation was an Aussie diving group called the Wet Mules’, ABC, 12 July 2018, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-11/thai-cave-rescue-australian-diver-group-wetmules-members-helped/9981378.
‘. . . established the first sump rescue training course . . .’: OZTek Advanced Diving Conference, http://www.diveoztek.com.au/Richard-Harris (accessed 10 Sept 2018).
‘One journalist later recalled . . .’: no, it wasn’t me.
‘My teammate Piers and I were . . .’: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.s.blair.3, used with permission; also correspondence between author and Ryan Blair, October 2018.
‘This is a tragedy . . .’: Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, ‘“Sgt Sam,” cave rescue hero who wanted to “bring the boys home”’, Khaosod (English), 6 July 2018.
‘His job was to deliver oxygen . . .’: Nicola Smith & Nuttakarn Sumon, ‘Thailand cave rescue: Diver dies while trying to save trapped group as time runs out’, The Telegraph, 6 July 2018.
‘There were five items on the agenda . . .’: Suttisak Soralump.
‘I told him that . . .’: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
19 Preparations
Quotes from Craig Challen and Major Charles Hodges drawn from: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘The colourful foam paddleboards . . .’: description from photos on Thai Navy SEAL Facebook post, 30 July 2018, https://www.facebook.com/ThaiSEAL.
‘Yeah, you know when . . .’: Ivan Karadzic.
‘Who would chloroform them?’, Stephanie Bedo, ‘Aussie cave diver reveals Thai boys wouldn’t have made it out alive without drugs’, 15 July 2018, https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/aussie-cave-diver-reveals-thai-boys-wouldnt-have-made-it-out-alive-without-drugs/news-story/9b2cbc8ae0b4 6bb652d9a8eac3c6133a; also ‘PM Prayut denies survivors tranquilized’, 10 July 2018, http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-prayut-denies-survivors-tranquilized/ (accessed 21 September).
‘. . . he took to relax before shooting guns . . .’: Alexandra Ma, ‘The boys in the Thai cave were given anti-anxiety drugs during the rescue to help get them out’, 10 July 2019, https://www.thisisinsider.com/thai-cave-boys-given-anti-anxiety-drugs-during-rescue-operation-2018-7 (accessed 21 September).
‘The anaesthetist came up with a combination . . .’: Facebook post by plastic surgeon Dr Jill Tomlinson, who was in the audience of a SWAN Trauma conference presentation by Dr Richard Harris.
‘They took that on themselves . . .’: Alina Eacott, ‘Thai cave doctor trained divers how to administer dangerous sedative to kids’, ABC, 26 July 2018.
‘Personally I thought there was zero chance . . .’: video clip tweeted by @GregOakford of Dr Harris speaking at a conference on 20 September 2018.
‘It was no means certain . . .’: Rick Stanton, ITV News, 17 July 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnXwvyZhm24 (accessed 18 September 2018).
‘The scenario was almost a perfect storm . . .’: Chris Jewell, Channel 5 News, YouTube 18 July 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM_0oBhvyAc (accessed 19 September).
20 Last Words
Quotes from Jason Mallinson drawn from: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘. . . sign a simple form . . .’: two sources independently described this note the same way (names withheld).
Translation of boys’ notes by Suppatra Vimonsuknopparat.
The letter: Dr Richard Harris, Swan Trauma conference video, posted on Twitter by John Crozier, Chair National Trauma Committee Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
21 D-day
Quotes from Craig Challen and Jason Mallinson drawn from: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘Today is D-day . . .’: Jintamas Saksornchai & Todd Ruiz, ‘D-Day perilous cave rescue has begun’, Khaosod English, 8 July 2018.
‘At around 8.20 am . . .’: timing from Martin Ellis, ‘A summary of the Tham Luang rescue’, op cit.
‘I talked with Dr Harris . . .’: Sending the Wild Boars Home press conference, op cit.
‘The SEALs asked me to make that decision . . .’ and other quotes by Coach Ek: ibid.
‘We got the Navy SEALs . . .’: Dr Richard Harris at the Swan Trauma conference, op cit.
Cable ties: John Volanthen.
‘Then it was time for Dr Harry . . .’: Dr Richard Harris, Swan Trauma conference, op cit.
‘Gap was just thirty-eight centimetres’: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/behind-the-dangerous-thai-cave-rescue-operation-a-war-with-water-and-time; https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/how-first-four-of-12-trapped-thai-schoolboys-were-rescued-from-the-cave/news-story/4e28d1c5864029c9132ef1bb 2eff9f8b.
‘You’re almost there . . .’: Josh Morris.
‘Once he was handed over to us . . .’: ‘Be comfortable being uncomfortable’, Platypus (Australian Federal Police magazine), 31 August 2018, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/platypus/be-comfortable-being-uncomfortable (accessed 1 September 2018).
22 Three more boys
The order the boys left the cave was a secret at the time, but was later confirmed to the author by several of the boys.
Details about the timing of the boys’ rescue come from: Martin Ellis, ‘A summary of the Tham Luang rescue’, op cit.
‘They were basically a package . . .’: Rick Stanton, ITV News, 17 July 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnXwvyZhm24 (accessed 18 September 2018).
‘. . .
to see, hear and feel the bubbles . . .’: ibid.
‘He was over-sedated . . .’: Dr Richard Harris, Swan Trauma conference, op cit.
‘The boys were extremely brave . . .’: Channel 5 News, op cit.
‘Today is the most perfect day . . .’: Dumrongkiat Mala & Wassana Nanuam, Bangkok Post, 9 July 2018, p 1.
‘There was a sense of euphoria . . .’: Channel 5 News, op cit.
23 Five, Six, Seven Eight
‘We’re 100 per cent ready . . .’: Jintamas Saksornchai, ‘Official pledges “quicker rescue”, prosecution of media’, 9 July 2018.
The timings of the fifth, sixth and eighth boy: Jintamas Saksornchai & Todd Ruiz, ‘Eight out alive: More daring cave rescue success’, Khaosod English, 9 July 2018.
‘It was very tricky . . .’: Matt Gutman, ABC (US), https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/thai-cave-rescuers-expected-deaths-56862800.
‘In the morning they complained . . .’: Bangkok Post, 10 July 2018.
‘I want joke, I want joke . . .’: Sending the Wild Boars Home press conference, op cit.
24 Closing Window
‘Today is probably the last weather window . . .’: Martin Ellis, ‘A summary of the Tham Luang rescue’, op cit.
‘The task of taking the coach out was given to Jim Warney . . .’: Erik Brown; also Martin Ellis, ibid.
‘At 4.37 pm, they are felt on the dive line . . .’: Martin Ellis, ibid.
‘At this point I hadn’t moved . . .’: Channel 5 News, op cit.
‘I was confident . . .’: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘. . . quite emotional . . .’: ibid.
‘I don’t know if it was kind of a supernatural . . .’: ‘Out of the Dark’, op cit.
‘Around 9 pm, two of the Thai divers arrived . . .’: timing from Martin Ellis, op cit.
‘Nobody thought we could do it . . .’: Panu Wongcha-um & John Geddie, ‘Nobody thought we could do it’: rescue of Thai boys accomplished’, Reuters, 10 July 2018.
‘We’d like to thank the world and the Thai people . . .’: Dumrongkiat Mala & Wassana Nanuam, ‘All wild boars saved’, Bangkok Post, 11 July 2018.
‘In my opinion . . .’ Dumrongkiat Mala & Wassana Nanuam, ‘All wild boars saved’, Bangkok Post, 11 July 2018.
25 Sending the Wild Boars home
‘Hi. Ever since the first day I came here . . .’: ‘Thai cave boys bid farewell to doctors, nurses at Chiang Rai hospital’, Reuters, 19 July 2018.
‘Each had regained . . .’: Amy Sawitta Lefevre, ‘“It was magical”: Thai boys relive their discovery in cave ordeal’, Reuters, 18 July 2018.
‘The team went through some key moments . . .’: Sending the Wild Boars Home press conference, op cit.
‘Psychologists reported . . .’: ibid.
‘The new governor reported . . .’: ibid.
‘I was confused why nobody came . . .’: Wild Boars media event, Siam Paragon, op cit.
‘. . . 3.5 million . . .’: ‘Statelessness a hurdle for some boys rescued from cave’, Associated Press, 17 July 2018.
‘. . . given papers as an “award of merit . . .”: Jintamas Saksornchai, Khaosod English, 8 August 2018, http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2018/08/08/4-wild-boars-granted-thai-citizenship-official/.
26 Bittersweet
‘I really loved him . . .’: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-44758082/thai-cave-wife-and-father-mourn-hero-diver.
‘I want to tell the boys . . .’: Amy Sawitta Lefevre, ‘“You are my very heart”: wife of diver who died in Thai cave rescue mourns a hero’, Reuters, 12 July 2018.
‘One of my fondest memories . . .’: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.s.blair.3.
‘. . . royal decoration of Knight Grand Cross . . .’: ‘Royally sponsored cremation held for cave hero Saman’, The Nation, 14 July, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30350084 (accessed 22 September 2018).
‘Harry put the mission first . . .’: ‘After heroic Thai rescue, cave-diving Australian doctor mourns father’s death’, Reuters, 11 July 2018.
‘No worries . . .’: ‘After heroic Thai rescue, cave-diving Australian doctor mourns father’s death’, Reuters, 11 July 2018.
‘We just went cave diving . . .’: Tom McIlroy, ‘Thai cave rescue Aussies honoured: “We just went cave diving for a few days”’, Australian Financial Review, 24 July 2018, https://www.afr.com/news/we-just-went-cave-diving-for-a-few-days-nine-aussies-honoured-for-thai-cave-rescue-20180724-h132oh.
‘Cave diving is what we do . . .’ and ‘We’re just a couple of ordinary blokes . . .’: Greg Brown, ‘Thai cave rescue: Australian divers honoured with bravery awards’ 24 July 2018, https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/thai-cave-rescue-australian-divers-honoured-with-bravery-awards/news-story/dc920f28f27 58dafa62c3019441e17c8.
27 Hunting the Wild Boars
‘It was later reported . . .’: this information comes from several intermediaries who worked with international media organisations.
‘. . . dropped off in three minivans that morning . . .’ Witness accounts and photos conveyed to the author.
‘The interview caused uproar . . .’: Thai PBS, http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/communication-misunderstanding-cited-for-abcnews-interview-with-wild-boars/.
‘They are not dolls . . .’: BBC Thai, 7 September 2018.
28 Controversy
‘Stick his submarine where it hurts . . .’: ‘Caver calls Elon Musk’s submarine a “PR stunt”’, CNN, https://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2018/07/15/vernon-unsworth.cnnmoney/index.html (Accessed 22 September 2018).
‘We will make one [video] . . .’: Amy Sawitta Lefevre, ‘British caver says he [was] approached by US, British lawyers over Musk’s comments’, Reuters, 15 July 2018.
‘Chiang Rai police said no charges . . .’: ibid.
‘spoken in anger after Mr. Unsworth . . .’: ‘Tesla’s Musk apologizes for comments on British caver’, Reuters, 18 July 2018.
29 Appeasing the Sleeping Lady
‘The museum would be paid for . . .’: Chinnapat Chaimol, ‘Construction of Tham Luang rescue museum begins’, Bangkok Post, 2 August 2018, https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1514438/construction-of-tham-luang-rescue-museum-begins.
‘Our hearts drew us . . .’: ‘“Our hearts drew us . . .”: says pump team that kept cave dry’, Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, 11 June 2018, http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/07/11/our-hearts-drew-us-says-pump-team-that-kept-cave-dry/.
‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’ . . .’: Ruengrit Changkwanyuen (Pae).
Acknowledgements
I have been fortunate to work with some of the best field producers and researchers in Thailand. They each played different roles and each was crucial.
Jum (Supattra Vimonsuknopparat) is the ABC Bangkok bureau’s producer. In her spare time and even while on holiday, Jum was working behind the scenes (often without me even knowing) to arrange interviews or search for fresh information. Jum laid the foundation for who I should talk to for this book and helped fact check the draft.
Nat (Nat Sumon) helped me get many of the key interviews that made this book. She spent two weeks in Chiang Rai guiding me to wonderful interviews and translating brilliantly. Nat was part of the most dramatic quests for interviews and she drove me home when I just had to drink all that moonshine!
Based in Chiang Mai, Am (Am Puchara Sandford) was on the scene early at Tham Luang. Her nutural ease with people made her one of the most trusted journalists on site for the families. Her timely advice led me to key interviews.
Tin (Boontin Posayanukul) arranged several interviews and attended conferences about the rescue, which yielded good information. He did long translations and much of that work has ended up in the book.
Katie (Kampirada Hongpetrasmi) led me to one of the strangest interviews of the book, exploring the ghostly dreams that brought Kruba Boonchum to the mountain. Unfortunately the ‘dark spirit’ didn’t help us win the lottery.
Reuters corres
pondent Panu (Panu Wongcha-um) was one of the hardest-working men on the mountain during the search and rescue. He contributed photographs and fact checked the draft manuscript.
Rachel Dennis did an incredible job of editing my hastily written first draft. My thanks to Mary Rennie at HarperCollins Australia for first proposing the book and seeing it through, and to Madeleine James (also at Harper CollinsAustralia) for her work on the photographs and maps.
During my three weeks at Tham Luang, David Leland endured long hours that few camera operators would have put up with; a consummate professional.
I was joined in the mud by another ABC team, my thanks to these wonderful colleagues: Anne Barker (reporter), Billy Cooper (cameraman), Phil Hemmingway (cameraman), and Angel (fixer). Brant Cummings arrived at Tham Luang late in the story, to replace Billy, and contributed several photographs for the book.
Thanks to Mark Willacy, Lucy Carter, Mat Marsic and Rob Mackay, the Four Corners team who quickly produced an excellent documentary.
Upsorn Yeo and Khun Tu (Channarong Apicharttham) kept the bureau going while I was on leave writing.
Thanks to Julia Hu in Australia and Pun (Chaninthorn Pitakwararat) in Thailand for translating interviews with the Chinese team, and to my dad, Ian Cochrane, for the literary references.
Dr Michael Sheridan generously checked some of the medical references.
I’d like to thank Michael Hayes, who gave me my start in journalism at the Phnom Penh Post. His essential rules of reporting and ongoing friendship have had a lasting impact.
Breeze (Parveena Thakrainate) always knew just when to give me space and when to turn up with delicious Thai food. So much of what I know about Thailand is because of you. My love and thanks.
A huge thanks to my friends Aaron and Clara for their constant encouragement and for being so understanding when I spent most of our beach holiday inside typing. Also, to their son Marley for trying to eat pumpkin soup with his fingers, which is how the writing felt some days.
The Cave Page 24