In February 2014 two divers died at a depth of more than 100m in a huge cave system in Norway. After a brief effort to free the body, he forced himself to calm down. On 6 February 2014, two divers cut a triangular hole in the ice at Plura, and, encased in waterproof dry suits and diving equipment, slipped into the water. As was the custom of the group, no-one was in overall command, but the first diver to set off was Patrik Gronqvist, one of a trio of Finns who had discovered the passage between the caves the year before. He isnt happy unless hes swimming around a claustrophobic hellscape and exploring some of the only alien terrain left on Earth. Vesa Rantanen, who was still recovering from a spinal injury caused by his decompression sickness, would be surface manager. The entrepreneur posted footage of the vehicle on Twitter and suggested it could be used to help save the trapped teens. It appears as if hes happily attending a summer program at Cornell University at the moment, all the while being enrolled at The Masters School in New York (graduating class of 2023). But it took me at least 15 minutes to get past that dead diver.". 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The Tesla founder responded with a series of tweets accusing Mr Unsworth of paedophilia. Be confident in your abilities and ignore your detractors.. Johns success hinges on an innovative approach, designing equipment and procedures to solve the unique difficulties presented by each cave. The lawsuit was filed by lawyers led by L. Lin Wood, an Atlanta attorney who has represented plaintiffs in several high-profile libel cases including the family of homicide victim JonBenet Ramsey and security guard Richard Jewel, who was accused in media reports of being a suspect in a 1996 bombing during the Olympics in Atlanta, a crime committed by anti-government extremist Eric Rudolph. Equipped with a dry sense of humour and a passing physical resemblance to Hollywood tough guy Vin Diesel, Paakkarinen had been diving longer than any of the others. John Volanthen is a world record-holding British cave diver who has been at the forefront of underground rescue and exploration over the last two decades. In 2018. Such as watching the Thai Navy Seal footage of the boys as John Volanthen draws on his skills as a father and scout leader to positively encourage the boys in Paakkarinen says that he sensed the Norwegian police were pleased that they had recovered the bodies, but "they let us know that we had broken some rules and they had to investigate that". Krisher reported from Detroit. In June 2018, the world held its breath for 18 days as a group of elite cave divers risked everything to rescue 12 boys and their coach from an underwater cave in "You always have to do your best to get your friends out, wherever they are.". Cave divers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen inside cave (Credit: National Geographic) But what we get extra here are the nuggets the small, more intimate moments. Looking upset, he explains in the film that he slept badly and is simply not in the right frame of mind for the operation. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. We should mention the public speaker is even an Assistant Cub Scout leader who homeschools his son Matthew, is in a relationship with Claire Foster, and genuinely prefers to keep his private life on the down low. Free Solo filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin further cementing their reputation as rock stars of the extreme non-fiction cinema scene with their most absorbing and ingeniously crafted stress-fest to date so intimately embed us with the ragtag team of cave divers who attempted the impossible that we feel worthy of a medal just for watching them do it. Thats because they stepped into this Thailand under-mountain system in relatively calm weather, only for swift heavy rains to trap them inside for 18 days, as charted in Amazon Primes Thirteen Lives. It thus took intense international efforts to ensure their safe rescue so now that its been a while, if you wish to learn more about what all the key people are up to these days, weve got you covered. Then in a second email to BuzzFeed, Musk accused Unsworth of being a liar and said he wasnt on the cave dive team. Avengers references are made, but the way this team is assembled smacks more of Armageddon (especially when one of the cave-divers mentions that he ducked out of a stag party to catch his flight). A post shared by John Volanthen (@jvolanthen), John seems to be based in Bristol at the moment, where he combines his expertise in electronics and diving to develop safer gear, runs marathons to stay in shape, and continues to explore as much as possible. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox. While most amateur divers might restrict themselves to dives of between 30 minutes and an hour, at a depth of 30m or so, the trip to Steinugleflaget would be a five-hour dive, with the aid of underwater scooters, to depths of more than 130m. Mr. These symptoms of decompression sickness - often called "the bends" - grew steadily more serious over the following hours. The men's breathing, the bubbles released from their equipment, and the occasional muffled command complete the soundtrack. These two unlikely heroes, along with a handful of other people who are roped into the cause over the course of the movie, feel a personal responsibility to save these kids because they know they might be the only people in the world who are capable of getting the job done. Hypercapnia can be deadly, but even a mild case may cause confusion and disorientation, which in a deep cave is liable to have serious consequences. It was totally our own fault.". "If you have to do anything physical - swim harder or faster or anything - that's very dangerous," says Gronqvist. He first started going to Thailand in 2011, where he explored and mapped caves, the documents stated. Having the bodies would help the families grieve, and would also help to prevent lengthy delays to insurance and inheritance settlements. To view this content choose accept and continue. In interviews, Kankanen has said his memories of exactly what happened are sketchy (he was unavailable to contribute to this article). IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. We hear the clanking of their gas cylinders and the intermittent whirring of underwater scooters. Cave divers use "rebreathers" which artificially absorb the carbon dioxide they exhale, but these can become overloaded if the divers start breathing quickly, and at depth it is more difficult for them to control their breathing. Holding your breath through Vasarhelyi and Chins harrowing climax, its impossible not to think of all the people who might still be alive today if more of us could recognize that obligation when it called. Last but not least, the then-25-year-old monk turned coach Eakapol Eak Jantawong has since established his own football training facility called the Eakapol Academy. Described as not the most domesticated of men, Stanton considers cave-diving to be a thinking activity which The Finnish president awarded Gronqvist the First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland, after he was nominated by his colleagues in the fire service. The Plura caves are now open once again. A British diver who helped to save 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in Thailand has insisted he was not a hero. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! He never married, and his house in England, cluttered with home-made diving equipment, once led a Sunday Telegraph journalist to describe him as not the The crazy-like-a-fox genius that Harris brings to the table is a microcosm of a rescue effort that was only feasible because of the multitude of people involved, and Vasarhelyi and Chin are sure to linger on the growing swell of soldiers and other volunteers who show up to lend a hand. At the time of the accident he was teaching a diving course in Mexico. As an anesthesia specialist as well as an experienced cave diver, Dr. Richard Harry Harris is arguably the one individual whose expertise led to the Wild Boars soccer teams successful rescue. Mr. Unsworth is not a child rapist, the lawsuit stated, adding that Unsworth has never been married to a minor. Best known as the first diver to locate and contact the missing youth Thai soccer team alongside long time diving partner Rick Stanton. Read about our approach to external linking. Its hence no surprise that he has since been awarded the Star of Courage, the Medal of the Order of Australia, the Order of the Direkgunabhorn, and the title of Australian of the Year (2019). Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Best known as the first diver to locate and contact the missing youth Thai soccer team alongside long time diving partner Rick Stanton. Mr Unsworth did not take part in the dives but had previously explored the cave complex extensively. At that point Gronqvist, a firefighter by trade, made Jari Huotarinen's wife a promise. At last, though, both victims were lifted up to Steinugleflaget, where they were placed in body bags Gronqvist had taken from his fire station. It proved a more difficult day than they anticipated. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Listen to Vesa Rantanen and Sami Paakkarinen, Go to the Diving into the Unknown website, Trump mistrial request denied in NY rape lawsuit, US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, DeSantis-backed board votes to countersue Disney, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine. He was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, and then he additionally acquired the Hero of the Year Award at the West Midland Fire Services Aspire Awards in 2021. "Quite the opposite, it is one of the most challenging dives that you can do, this Plura traverse. The divers head towards the site of the accident, Sami Paakkarinen calls the Norwegian authorities to inform them of the illegal rescue, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. john@volanthen.com, or visit the contact page. We should mention Somphong Pong Jaiwong (of the same age group), in particular, is currently enrolled at Chiang Mai Technical College in the Si Phum sub-district, a cultural hub. On the other hand, we have Adul Dul Samon, the only English speaker of the trapped 13 and hence the one to communicate with the initial rescue group, who has since made his way to the US. And our white bread heroes who, similar to Free Solo protagonist Alex Honnold, have trouble communicating with other people as it is find themselves lost in translation between the Royal Thai Navy and the U.S. Special Forces whove shown up for some extra muscle. A separate suit will follow in London, the filing says. The first amendment of the United States Constitution which protects free speech makes defamation a challenging legal action to bring. Although John Volanthen wished to keep his distance from the limelight following the events of 2018, he has not shied away from sharing his side of the story to indicate hes not a hero, just a skilled diver. He soon discovered his friends had all had the same idea. asks Juan Reina. He never married and has dedicated his life to cave-diving, in which he has become one of the most accomplished people in the world. John played a key role in the Tham Luang Thailand cave rescue. "It's not that they are just enjoying the thrill of risking their lives - there's more to it than that. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. The filing also says Mr Unsworth is seeking "punitive damages" as well as the compensation, "to punish him for his wrongdoing and deter him from repeating such heinous conduct". Did you know that one of the experts that rescued the trapped Thai schoolboys was a hero firefighter and cave diver from Coventry? He actually continues to actively volunteer in a wide variety of search-rescue operations, all the while teaming up with charities like Operation Flinders Foundation as well as hosting his Real Risk Podcast. Richard is also an aspiring filmmaker and an author he co-wrote Against All Odds (November 2019) with Craig Callen and penned a childrens book Alfie the Brave (April 2022). The The first diver in the second team was Vesa Rantanen. Mr Musk (R) alleged that British diver Mr Unsworth (L) had a "child bride". The lawsuit explains Unsworths role in the rescue, saying that on June 23, when the soccer players became trapped, several Thai officials called and asked him to go to the cave as soon as possible. Musk and engineers from his rocket company, SpaceX, built a small submarine and shipped it to Thailand to help with the rescue. It says Mr Musk sometimes used his Twitter account and emails to "publish to the world false and defamatory accusations" against the Briton. But if you want to know the Brits entire personal account of the rescue, you can read it in his nail-biting May 2021 book Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave.. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? But Stanton has an unusual hobby: He loves to cave-dive. "This incident happened, and then they've made a film and they all come out as heroes," he says. Divernet on March 16, 2022 at 11:55 am Advertisements Scuba Diver chats to cave-diving legend Rick Stanton, and finds out what lured him underground in the first place, the challenges of some of his more epic cave dives, and what it was like to be in the midst of the worlds greatest dive rescue. Rick Stanton got an MBE for years of service. Then Gronqvist steers a dive scooter towards the surface, towing the body, while Paakkarinen follows to help manouevre it. We should mention that Jason has received the Queens Gallantry Medal, the Pride of Britain Award, as well as an honorary doctorate from the University of Huddersfield, allowing him to expand his reach. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. The kids are already stuck (and possibly already dead), the Thai Navy SEALs trained only in open-water diving are thwarted by a drowned labyrinth of mud and darkness at every turn, and how to reach the inner cavities of the cave system is an open question posed to the rest of the planet. They were Finnish divers who knew one another from explorations they had made of the Ojamo mine, west of Helsinki. Scuba Diver chats to cave-diving legend Rick Stanton, and finds out what lured him underground in the first place, In 2004 he was involved in the rescue of six British cavers who were trapped in a cave at the Alpazat caverns in Mexico for eight days. But then again, we have the best knowledge of the place, we are the original explorers of the place, we know the place like our own pockets.". The following day Gronqvist and Paakkarinen returned to retrieve Jari Uusimaki's body, assisted at depth by another diver, Jani Santala. So the Norwegian police called off the recovery. Despite everything, Gronqvist, Rantanen, Kankanen and Paakkarinen continue to enjoy the sport. Described as the A Team of Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? The destination for all five men was Steinugleflaget. Read about our approach to external linking. But The Rescue ultimately isnt as fraught a story of people coming together to save 13 strangers from certain death as it is one about why people cant be moved to save 130 million strangers from a similar fate. You quickly cotton to the fact that some artifice must be involved, and yet not even the films most heart-stopping footage is so over the line that your brain completely disengages from the reality of whats on screen. Harper, who had just returned from exploring Thai caves with Unsworth, brought two other divers, John Volanthen and Rick Stanton, to help with the rescue. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? But the mission had to be planned in secret. The Rescue begins the day after the Wild Boars soccer team and their twentysomething coach have become trapped in the waterlogged recesses of the Tham Luang Nang Non cave after monsoon season arrives a full month early. From Barbie to The Flash, Here Are the Movies That Made the Biggest Impact at CinemaCon. Although he later deleted the tweets and offered an apology to the diver, Mr Musk reignited the row earlier this month. on March 16, 2022. at 11:55 am. Huotarinen seemed to be starting to panic, which meant he risked breathing too fast. As for the rest of the boys, now-adults Ekkarat Biw Wongsukchan and Tee are still dedicated to soccer, Prachak Note Sutham is leading a good life alongside his girlfriend, and the engaged-to-be-married Phiphat Nick Phothi serves as a rescue center worker. Described as the A Team of diving rescues by the British Cave Rescue Council, he also planned and participated in the childrens rescue. Dont miss out on opportunities to do something different, something outside the box, the veteran diver and motivational speaker said during his acceptance for the latter in 2019. The first step in the five-day operation was to lug more than a tonne of gear into the cave at Steinugleflaget, winching it bit by bit up a cable to the mountain. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 (57,000) in compensation and an injunction against Mr Musk to stop further allegations. "I told the widow that we would go and get them," he recalls. Read about our approach to external linking. "I told her that they are not going to be left there, that we would think of something.". The Film Industry Lost Some Titans This Year What Happens Now? Up until the summer of 2018, not many people had heard of Stanton. It was another six months before the group was told that they would face no charges for their illegal dive. "Carbon dioxide absorbs into the bloodstream much faster and easier at depth," says Gronqvist. Rick has deliberately never married or started a family because his work is his whole life, which he touched upon in his June 2021 book Aquanaut: A Life Beneath the Surface The Inside Story of the Thai Cave Rescue.. And yet, the documentarys ample suspense is never so overwhelming that it obscures this storys poignant sentiment, nor is the selfless heroism on display so overwrought that it washes away the bittersweet aftertaste The Rescue leaves behind. John has been involved in a number of search, rescue, and recovery incidents in the UK, Ireland, France and further afield. The subsequent fortnight was a whirlwind. A British cave diver is suing tech billionaire Elon Musk for defamation after his repeated claims the diver is a child abuser. If the divers found Huotarinen's body impossible to shift, they would have to make the long trip back to Plura, and such a device might well be a life-saver. With a background in medical electronics, John has produced innovations to allow the exploration and mapping of ever deeper and more complex caves in a safe and controlled manner. Finns also have a proud history of going to great lengths to retrieve the bodies of deceased friends. The Lufthansa electrician took up cave diving 20 years ago, and exploration became his passion after he moved to Ireland. 2023 BBC. Thanks to a combination of GoPro video, 87 hours of footage captured by a Thai admirals wife, and brilliant re-creations that were shot with the actual divers in a pitch-black England water tank during COVID and cut into the archival material with surgical precision, the two-week rescue effort seems as if it were staged and storyboarded with this eventual documentary in mind. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Where to Watch This Week's New Movies, from 'Are You There God? All Rights Reserved. An email to Buzzfeed reporter Ryan Mac included the claim the Briton was a "child rapist", imploring the reporter to "find out what's actually going on" and suggesting the diver took no part in the cave rescue. Why was Elon Musk at the Thai cave rescue? The truth has now got its boots on and Elon Musk is being brought to account for repeatedly attacking and taunting the good name of an ordinary spelunker: Vernon Unsworth who answered the call and (with others) put his life on the line to help rescue the 13 trapped in the caves in Thailand, he said. There was nothing for it but to continue to Steinugleflaget - very slowly. The active member of the British Cave Rescue Councils international team has 30+ years of experience, along with national/world records under his belt, making it clear hes perfectly qualified for his job. A post shared by Richard Harris (@richard.harris_). "Musk's influence and wealth cannot convert his lies into truth or protect him from accountability for his wrongdoing in a court of law," Mr Unsworth's US attorney, L Lin Wood, said. Instead, the atmosphere is one of intense single-mindedness, as the team discuss how to manoeuvre the bodies through the water, and preserve them until the police, notified after the fact, could come and collect them. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. WebVolanthen frequently cave dives and conducts rescues with a partner, Richard Stanton . In Wookey hole in the UK, alongside Rick Stanton, John advanced the British cave diving depth record to over 90M. It's their calling. Jill Lawless contributed to this report from London. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? It concedes that Unsworth was not involved in the final planning stages of the rescue because he didnt have enough experience to make the dive. The documents said a separate lawsuit would be filed in England. He knew about the raised ledge known as Pattaya Beach where the boys and their football coach could have sought shelter, travelled into the caves shortly after they went missing and called in the two expert British divers who eventually found the trapped group. British divers at heart of Thai cave rescue among best in world | Thailand | The Guardian. He had trained both the victims and counted them as good friends. The Coventry, England resident is a former firefighter with 25 years of experience, which he admits helps him in every expedition as well; thus, his aim is to provide insights to others for safer, better adventures. By the time he reached Plura, he had to break a thin layer of ice to climb out of the water. "Last time I didn't know whether to come back up or stay down there," he adds, hinting at what Huotarinen's death has cost him. There is also the possibility of equipment failure, and hypercapnia - carbon dioxide poisoning. The phrase "kaveria ei jateta" - "never leave a friend behind" - was used by Finnish soldiers, who put themselves in grave danger to recover the bodies of fallen comrades during the Winter War against the USSR in 1939-1940. He also said Musk can stick his submarine somewhere where it hurts., The lawsuit alleges that Musk, apparently angered by Unsworths remarks, began a campaign to destroy his reputation by publishing false and heinous accusations of criminality against him to the public., In a series of tweets July 15, Musk, who personally delivered the submarine to the cave, wrote that he never saw Unsworth and challenged him to show a video of the final rescue. Later on Twitter, Musk wrote Bet ya a signed dollar its true.. But this advantage was offset by the fact that the men knew the victims they would be rescuing.
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