Thai divers successfully rescued monks trapped in caves during sudden rainstorms

Hi, the divers are all concerned with IFdiving!

Image credit: Prasat Bun Sathan Foundation

According to reports, on April 7 local time, divers successfully rescued a monk who had been trapped for 4 days from a flooded cave in northern Thailand.

The trapped person is Phra Ajarn Manat, 46, who entered the Tham Phra Sai Ngam Cave in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park in northern Thailand on April 3, planning to meditate here for the weekend.

However, like the trapped junior soccer team in 2018, a sudden, unseasonal storm and the ensuing continuous rain caused the water level in the cave to rise sharply, and the opening of the cave was blocked, and he was unfortunately trapped in the cave.

Because Manat had a habit of meditating in these caves every April, local residents found that he did not show up, feared that he was trapped, and reported the situation to the relevant authorities. There were fears he would be exhausted from not bringing food.

Upon learning of the situation, volunteers from the local rescue service, police and other experts jointly launched the rescue operation, but the rescue operation was severely hampered by bad weather conditions and rising water levels.

After the rain stopped on April 7, 17 divers who had participated in the 2018 rescue operation entered the cave and found Manat trapped for four days. At that time, he was located on a high ground about 400 meters from the entrance of the cave, behind a puddle about 12 meters long and 4 meters deep. Rescuers equipped Manat with diving gear and rescued him safely.

Manat was reportedly found with mild fever symptoms and was exhausted, but otherwise uninjured, and was taken to the hospital for examination immediately after coming out.

In 2018, a Thai junior soccer team was trapped by floods during a cave expedition, triggering a day-long rescue operation. The rescue operation, which involved thousands of people from many countries, attracted global attention.