Divine Intervention: Part 1
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Blog Post #64
The Right People
In the summer of 2018, much of the world’s attention was on 12 boys, a soccer coach and their misadventure into a local cave. Rising water trapped them deep inside, with more rain on the way. Movies, books, podcasts and media interviews have since told a clearer, more detail picture of their rescue.
“Many people —in Thailand and around the world— immediately began referring to the rescue’s success as being a miracle…While I appreciate the sentiment of that statement, I think that calling it a miracle is a disservice to the people who made it happen…what looks like a miracle…can be explained by thorough preparation, risk management, confidence, and maybe a bit of good fortune.” —Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
This four part series intends to show that Rick Stanton and a team of elite technical cave divers were essential in the Thai cave rescue. That “bit of good fortune” was equally essential, and often referred to as Divine Intervention—the omniscient workings of the Divine Will to ensure a favorable or fortunate outcome.
“Throughout this rescue, it’s an absolute definitive, if there were not some sort of Divine Intervention these kids wouldn’t have come out alive—whether that's from having the right person at the right time show up on the scene; whether that’s John and Rick coming up at the end of their rope, literally, within feet of where the kids were; whether it’s getting everybody to agree when these entities wouldn't normally ever agree. In my mind, there was an absolute supernatural influence. I credit that to God.”
—Major Charles Hodges, US Special Ops
So who were the right people?
Vern Unsworth, a British expatriate living in Thailand, was called in right from the start. Exploring and mapping Tham Luang cave during the dry season was his personal hobby and he knew it better than anybody else. He also knew that technical cave divers with decades of experience in underwater cave exploration were the only ones qualified to undertake such a rescue. Confident that their elite Navy SEALs could handle it, the Thai officials were dismissive. But Vern persisted.
John Volanthen is a British, elite technical cave diver. “After twenty-four hours, their disappearance started to creep across news feeds…Online, people were issuing their hopes, prayers and platitudes…given our experience and expertise in high-pressure situations, my regular dive partner Rick Stanton and I were best placed to conduct a rescue mission…I sensed a need to take responsibility to get an official invite…I thought Rick and I can help save those kids.” —John Volanthen, Thirteen Lives
Rick Stanton is a British, elite technical cave diver. “John and I enjoy the challenge of solving complex logistical problems nearly as much as we love being underwater…Our extreme level of cave diving naturally combines both physical and mental engagement working in partnership to achieve success. Tham Luang provided for both of these elements in extremis, and we relished being able to overcome them.”
—Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
When John and Rick arrived at the cave they were treated like a nuisance. The water in the cave was like a river, its current dangerous; a situation that experienced, technical cave divers know to avoid. Frustrated with the chaos at the site, they decided to leave but were asked to stay: “It wouldn’t look good,” said one Thai official. As they waited, the heavy rain began to subside, diving became possible and, ultimately rewarding.
“I even prayed (diving through the cave)…the passage roof seemed to rise up. We had emerged into a large air pocket…I felt a sensory jolt; a weird signal that everything around us was different…It was the Wild Boars soccer team! How many of you? 13. Brilliant.” —John Volanthen, Thirteen Lives
“This is the most amazing timing…if we had turned back, if John hadn’t grabbed another reel of line, if Ben hadn’t done his part….if all the pieces hadn’t been in place…we wouldn’t have found the boys at that moment.” —Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
“What had surprised Major Hodges and many others was that the boys were all found in the same location. They had…aided in their own survival: stayed together, found high ground, and had not tried to test uncertainty by trying to swim out of the cave. It told him that these were kids who understood on an intuitive level not just how to survive, but how to survive together.
“As they gathered their gear to leave, each of the boys came over and wrapped skinny arms around them…In a country where physical contact among strangers is unusual, and where a slight bow with hands pressed together in front of one’s face takes the place of a handshake, the series of embraces showed the enormity of the boys’ relief and gratitude. And the Brits were duly moved.” —Matt Gutman The Boys In The Cave
A thirteen year-old English-speaking, Thai soccer player was asked how he felt seeing the rescue divers after being stuck in the cave for ten days. He replied: “I knew we would be rescued but didn’t know when, so I was surprised to see them in the water. It was a miracle.”
“It was a miracle! And a huge relief (to find the boys and their coach alive) but the scary part was that as the world was rejoicing Rick and John pull me aside and said, ‘I don't think we can get them out. This is very difficult diving, not for us, but for them it would be almost impossible.’ The burden just became bigger…I remember pausing, looking at them, then asking: ‘What does the impossible look like?’ They began discussing all the daunting things that would make this mission impossible…with a mindset of team work and perseverance…a plan, still thought to be impossible emerged. And it was executed with success…Don't ever let anybody tell you something's impossible.”
—Derek Anderson, Master Sargent, US Special Ops
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says: ‘I’m possible’!” — Audrey Hepburn.
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 interviews 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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