Divine Intervention: Part 3
A Rock Climber and A Water Magician
Industrial water pumps were extracting water from the cave non-stop. Thanet Natisri, a thirty-two-year-old water management specialist was called to the site. He helps Thai farmers manage aquifers and flood water, and seemingly makes water appear and disappear. He and his crew were able to diverted water from entering the cave from above and reduced the groundwater near the cave’s entrance. Along with a break in the heavy rain, the water level inside the cave was stabilizing.
The rice crop of over 100 families was destroyed by the immense amount of water being pumped from the cave during the 17 day rescue, flooding their paddies. Yet, these farmers agreed to it beforehand, saying it was a way for them to help the rescue effort. The Thai government later offered restitution for their financial loss but they refused, again saying that they were part of something bigger, part of a community supporting the effort and that was enough for them. A divine display of humility and selflessness!
The morning after the boys were found alive, Thai SEALs were sent to Chamber 9 to reassure the soccer team. They were expected to return within eight hours. When they didn’t return by the next morning, three more SEALs, one with medical credentials, were sent in. The Thai SEALs had no practical cave diving experience. Relying on only strength and courage they entered the flooding cave knowing that it could be fatal.
“Some of us are beckoned into caves by the mystery of the unexplored. We take comfort in the very things that bring fear to others. —Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
“I find the solitude of the cave, the underwater realm truly meditative. It’s enormously restorative and I feel like it clears the cobwebs of work and taxes and the daily drama so I can return better than I left.” —Richard Harris, Against All Odds
"When three Thai SEALs arrived back…they were clearly shaken, describing to their commanders the horrific dive—those squeezes, the rip current, the eternity of darkness. They couldn’t image bringing children through an ordeal that had expended every reserve of courage and strength they had….a rescue dive was now definitely out of the question, at least for them.
“The Americans knew they were days from being forced to marron the children to a gruesome death if left in the cave, and while they believed that the SEALs also grasped the gravity of the situation, that message apparently had not been communicated to the military decision makers.” —Matt Gutman, The Boys In The Cave
“The only reason we think that we were actually even afforded the chance to present our rescue plan was because of a man named Josh Morris…I honestly think without him the rescue wouldn't have happened.” —Ken O’Brien, Master Sargent, US Special Ops
Josh Morris, an American rock climber living in Thailand for over 17 years, cancelled a planned family trip to the U.S. to volunteer at the cave. He had been wandering around the mountain for a week, not feeling very useful, looking for possible air shafts. But he did meet Thanet who had satellite imagery of the mountain and connections with the Thai military. Josh asked if Thanet could get a helicopter to explore a promising sinkhole. On Friday morning, July 6, Josh attended a prerequisite flight meeting with Thanet. He was planning to leave the rescue site that afternoon because his family vacation to the U.S. had been rescheduled for Sunday.
During the briefing, Josh had a chance encounter with a high ranking military official. Major General Buncha Duriyapan just happened to be a friend of his wife’s family. The two reminisced and the General introduced Josh to the others as his old friend, and in an instant, Josh’s status and influence among the Thai officials was elevated.
On their way to the helicopter, Josh and Thanet just happened to meet Vern and John who shared their frustration that no one was listening to them — “If we don’t dive, every one will die.” Josh and Thanet ditched their helicopter ride (and Josh, his family vacation) to return to the Thai military commanders.
Josh explained in fluent Thai what the American/UK logistical teams had determined:
“…that the options still being explored were doomed; the boy’s oxygen levels were decreasing and carbon dioxide levels were rising; the monsoon rains would prevent further diving and nullify the water diversions now in place; the boy’s would starve to death or drown by rising water or succumb to disease; there wasn’t a zero risk option; if they didn’t dive to save some, they would all die.” —Matt Gutman, The Boys In The Cave
Josh’s passionate plea and his connection to Major General Duriyapan had opened the door for the American Special Ops team to present the British rescue plan. On Sunday, July 8, the plan was secretly approved and the rescue began.
“Don't ever underestimate the power of teamwork…I truly don't know of very many other situations where 18 plus countries, a thousand people, every different religion, walk of life, language barriers, cultural barriers…to truly see what's possible when you work together…put aside the things people fight about these days to rally around the cause…you truly can achieve the impossible, or have a great success. Things that used to be impossible, if we look at and say well maybe it is possible, we just need to look at it from a different angle.” —Derek Anderson, Master Sargent, US Special Ops
“It is an inspirational story of what we humans are capable of when we come together to help others.” —James Cameron, Against All Odds
“People from around the whole world had worked together on this rescue, and I was proud to have been a part of that.” —Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
“The kid’s will to survive was incredible… the rescue, yeah…I mean a miracle… and that’s not to take away or invalidate any of the great work that was done.”
—Derek Anderson, Master Sargent, U.S. Special Ops
What did the “right people, in the right place” have in common even before they arrived at the rescue site? Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Dr. Richard Harris and Josh Morris all knew they needed to be there. This inner knowing — an intuitional feeling, an unerring prompting of the soul — is the Divine intervening in human affairs.
By detailing how intensely complicated and perilous the rescue was — the enormous pressure and fatigue, the cave’s dark, unsanitary conditions, contaminated gas in the air tanks, a less than 80% survival rate for the boys, the possibility of being electrocuted by the underwater electrical lines running the water pumps, the ever-present threat of heavy monsoon rain, head-banging stalactites, etc. — the following support, although unintentionally, the presence of Divine Intervention. They also give a very clear picture of the selflessness of all the volunteers.
—Rick Stanton
Aquanaut: A Life Beneath the Surface; The Inside Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
—John Volanthen
Thirteen Lessons That Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue
—Craig Challen and Richard Harris
Against All Odds: The Inside Account of the Thai Cave Rescue
—Matt Gutman
The Boys In The Cave: Deep Inside The Impossible Rescue In Thailand
—YouTube videos and podcasts
Peace Affirming Prayer
Peace fills my mind and flows through all my thoughts.
Peace fills my heart and flows through all my love.
Peace fills my soul and goodwill flows to all.
Peace fills my being and permeates all my activities.
Peace within. Peace without. Peace everywhere.
Peace in my mind. Peace in my heart. Peace in my soul.
Peace in me. Peace in my home. Peace in my country. Peace in my world.
Peace everywhere.
Amen.
Ukrainian folklore characterizes pysanky as a symbolic, talismanic writing that invokes a higher Universal Power for help, while believing with faithful certainty that It will. The contemporary version of this characterization is a paper-and-pen journaling practice called prayer writing that develops a personal relationship with God.
Copyright © 2023 Nancy Kopack.
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