MONDAY – JUNE 25, 2018
A team of Thai Navy divers, led by Captain Anan Surawan, arrived at Tham Luang cave around midnight. After a quick briefing, they entered the cave and reached the critical T-junction by 5 a.m.
Navigating through pitch-black, murky water with near-zero visibility, the SEALs relied on ropes and touch to find their way forward. They located and cleared the blocked left passage that local rescuers with the help of Unsworth and Kunngamkwamdee had struggled to find but, 200 meters in, encountered another submerged section. With oxygen running low—each diver carrying only one tank—they were forced to retreat.
Despite aborting the mission, they made a crucial discovery: handprints and footprints beyond the T-junction, offering hope that the missing children were close.
On that Monday morning, Robert Harper, who had been following the rescue efforts closely through Unsworth, recognized the need for specialized expertise. He contacted Unsworth to suggest involving two British cave rescue divers: Rick Stanton and John Volanthen. Unsworth noted down their names.
(Robert Harper – British Cave Rescue Council)
Harper then reached out to Stanton and Volanthen, asking them to be on standby. However, they were aware that an official request from the Thai authorities would be necessary for their formal involvement. Understanding this requirement, the British divers took initiative. They emailed the Thai embassy in the UK and began working their contacts to secure the official invitation needed for their participation in the rescue effort.
“We were so sure that we could play a part in saving these kids, that we reached out to the British government to contact the Thai government on our behalf” – Rick Stanton