Thai cave rescue was seconds from disaster as failing water pumps sent ‘screaming’ divers scrambling for exit moments after kids were rescued
The panic was caused by pumps, which were draining the tunnel, suddenly failing and filling the Tham Luang cave with water
THE dream rescue of 12 boys from a Thai cave almost turned into a nightmare yesterday when failing pumps caused “screams” of terror inside the tunnel network.
Shortly after the last lad was saved, divers told how they heard frightened shrieks from rescue workers inside the Tham Luang cave complex.
The diver added: “The screams started coming because the main pumps failed and the water started rising.”
But he revealed that the remaining 100 members of the rescue team were able to escape the cave within an hour along with the Thai Navy SEALs and Dr Richard Harris who had been looking after the boys.
After the three-day rescue mission, the brave lads and their football coach are being treated by medics following their nightmare stint in the tunnel network in Chiang Rai.
The Royal Thai Navy Seals confirmed that the mission was complete on their Facebook page.
They posted: “All 12 Wild Boars and coach have been extracted from the cave. Hooyah!”
Meanwhile, Dr Harris, who risked his life to help save the boys, lost his own father during the rescue, it has emerged.
Not only did the heroic doctor, from from Adelaide, Australia, stay with the kids to support them he also reportedly persuaded rescuers to change their strategy and pull the weakest boys out first.
But it has since been revealed that Dr Harris’ own father died shortly after the last of the stricken group were freed from the cave.
The courageous medic’s boss Andrew Peace, of South Australia's ambulance service, released a statement confirming how difficult the news has been for the hero and his family.
He said: “This is clearly a time of grief for the Harris family, magnified by the physical and emotional demands of being part of this week's highly complex and ultimately successful rescue operation."
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