THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Volunteers bring selfless spirit to the rescue mission

Volunteers bring selfless spirit to the rescue mission

Optimistic volunteers said there was always hope in even the most dire situation, even as the mission to rescue 12 youths and their football coach trapped in a flooded cave reached its seventh day yesterday.

The news of the operation to find the missing footballers in the Tham Luang cave has gone viral not only in Thailand, but also around the world. Many people have been travelling from their homes to the rescue site in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district.
In addition to the official agencies who are taking part in one of the biggest coordinated rescue operations in Thailand’s history, many individuals from Thailand and beyond are also travelling to the site to lend a helping hand, despite the difficulties and inhospitable environment.
Jordan Kennedy, a volunteer paramedic from New York, is one among the Good Samaritans who have come here.
“I have work experience as an ambulance paramedic. I used to be a medical volunteer at refugee camps on the Thailand-Myanmar border, so I have come here because I think I can contribute my expertise in administering emergency medicine to help the rescue team,” Kennedy said.
Although it has been seven days since all 13 members of a local football team got trapped in the flooded cave, he said he believed there was still hope for the stranded footballers and they could be rescued.
“Experience as a paramedic has taught me that even in the darkest situation, we cannot lose hope or else we cannot do our work properly,” he said.
Nathee Ruengsa-ad, a volunteer from Bangkok, who is involved in adventure tourism, said there are three major obstacles facing the rescue team inside the cave: darkness, water and air. 
“The cave can be so dark that we cannot even see our own hands, while the high water level and thin air could also be a threat to those involved in the rescue mission,” he said. However, Nathee said he understood why these dedicated officers were risking their lives to save people they have never even met before.
“Even I felt the urgent urge to do something to get the children out after hearing this news. I cannot sleep even a minute if I do not come up here to provide help in any way I can,” he said.
Jean Christian Manga Mbolo, a footballer from Cameroon who has been playing in the Thai League, also joined in to help as a volunteer.
“I do not have any specific skill that can be helpful for the effort to rescue these boys, but I have come anyway to offer my help. I’m ready to do any work, even labour,” Mbolo said.
“I always want to help people in distress. I cannot bear to do nothing while the other people are suffering, so I wish I can help in some way to bring these children out of the cave safely.”
 

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