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Thai cave heroes relive terror as startling footage reveals full rescue

Some of the hero divers revealed their initial terror. Source: ABC/Four Corners.

The hero divers who rescued 12 soccer players and their coach from a Thai cave have relived their initial terror when attempting to reach them, admitting they felt the chances of them surviving were “bleak” – and even believed they could be doing “body recoveries”.

Startling new footage, taken as part of an incredible hour-long documentary on ABC’s Four Corners, showed everything from the desperate screams of the boys’ parents as they attempted to reach them, to the incredible moment the first divers met the group underground.

The show featured interviews with American, British and Australian rescuers, as they shared intimate details of the terrifying cave network, tiny holes, underwater passages and pitch black conditions – with many admitting they felt there was no hope of getting all 13 of the group out alive.

British cave diver Jason Mallinson was one of the divers who helped rescue the boys, and told the show: “The first thought is they’re not going to get out – they’re kids. It’s all about panic underwater, you can tell a kid anything you want, but when they’re underwater they can think anything.”

He explained while the visibility was “fine” when swimming inside, as the rescue team were moving against the current, it got worse with each diver – before eventually becoming almost blinding as they made their way back out again. In fact, he compared it to a “mentally exhausting combat course”.

While the divers could sometimes see their foot, there were other times that Mallinson compared it to “reading braille” with absolutely no visibility at all – as they were forced to use the walls to feel their way along.

The hero diver admitted the most treacherous part of the cave system was a vertical point they had to navigate while pulling a boy with them. As the darkness took hold following hours underwater, it became “daunting”. He added: “I knew I could get myself out, but if you lose that guideline you’re in a lot of trouble… I was confident of getting the kid out, but I wasn’t 100 per cent confident of getting him out alive.”

He added of the final chamber where the boys were huddled: “Where they were was quite a desolate place, they’ve got to eat there and go to the toilet there, so the smell is pretty bad.”

The soccer team became trapped four kilometres into the cave after heading in as a rite of passage. The team originally set off for their adventure on June 23 and the international rescue mission began on July 2 – more than a week after they vanished. Flash floods had made it nearly impossible for the team to escape the cave.

Huge pumps worked to drain some of the rising water, but Mallinson admitted: “Every single pump was getting overwhelmed.”

He was joined by Aussie diver Craig Challen, who accompanied Dr Richard Harris on the mission as his long-term dive buddy.

Challen admitted when he first heard of the situation he had very little hope, adding: “It wasn’t looking good at all. It’s a long way in, most of them don’t even know how to swim never mind dive. To be honest, the prospects looked bleak.”

Shortly after they arrived, they got the news that former Thai Nazy SEAL Saman Kunan had sadly passed away while trying to return from the chamber – after running out of air mid-dive.

Another diver, Major Charles Hodges, explained the team were shocked by the tragic death, but added: “If anything our resolve was strengthened.”

Incredible footage, taken by divers underground, showed the moment British divers first made contact with the boys. A video shows them repeatedly asking what day it is before shouting “we’re hungry”.

Read more: Tears as Thai cave survivors are told about Navy Seal’s death

The divers eventually managed to calm them down by making conversation, with the coach and some of the boys who could speak a little English.

Mallinson later encouraged the boys to write a letter to their parents, and it ended up bringing huge joy to the families. He explained: “It just put their parents’ minds at rest, it was hugely important as we weren’t sure if they’d get out.”

One letter read: “I’m fine, it’s a bit cold but don’t worry. Please don’t forget my birthday.”

Another added: “I miss you all so much, I really want to get out.” Meanwhile, the coach wrote his own, apologising to all parents, requesting a special dinner from his gran, and adding: “I promise I will take the best care of the boys.”

Meanwhile, US Air Force Public Affairs Officer, Major Jessica Tait, broke down in tears on camera as she praised the Thai rescue effort and leadership throughout. She said: “It was so dark… I could sense oh my gosh, there’s 12 children and a coach in here. I’m just in the entrance, and even I’m spooked out.”

Rescuers admitted they had considered leaving the boys where they were for the entire monsoon season – around four months – but eventually it was concluded that the dropping oxygen levels could prove a danger.

“It became an unrealistic course of action”, one of the divers revealed.

While it was rumoured that Dr Harris chose to bring the weaker boys out first, Challen confirmed they actually left it down to the boys and their coach – and let them choose who would come out.

He added: “We thought there was a strong chance we’d be doing body recoveries.”

Mallinson described Dr Harris as the “linchpin of the whole operation”.

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