Elon Musk ramps up efforts to help save boys trapped in Thailand cave
The billionaire is trying to help with the rescue by sending engineers and offering advice on alternative ways to save the boys.
Sunday 8 July 2018 02:25, UK
Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has said there has been "some good feedback" from experts helping to rescue the football team trapped in a Thai cave.
The billionaire entrepreneur has sent engineers to help the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their football coach who have been stuck in a cave following a flash flood for almost two weeks.
Musk tweeted on Saturday: "Some good feedback from cave experts in Thailand.
"Iterating with them on an escape pod design that might be safe enough to try.
"Also building an inflatable tube with airlocks.
"Less likely to work, given tricky contours, but great if it does."
:: 'Take me for grilled pork': Notes written by boys trapped in cave in full
Musk's company, Boring Co, which digs tunnels for transport systems and has advanced ground-penetrating radar, has sent a team of engineers to Thailand to see if they can help with the rescue effort.
A Boring Co spokeswoman said it is in talks with the Thai government and people on the ground to determine how they could best assist their efforts.
On Twitter, Musk said: "Boring Co has advanced ground penetrating radar & is pretty good at digging holes. Don't know if pump rate is limited by electric power or pumps are too smal. If so, could dropship fully charged Powerpacks and pumps."
He added: "Got more great feedback from Thailand.
"Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull.
"Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust."
Musk was initially approached on Twitter to help the footballers and first of all said Thai authorities probably had it under control but was "happy to help if there is a way to do so".
He went on to share ideas about possible technology for a safe evacuation, suggesting that an air tunnel constructed with soft tubing like a bouncy castle could provide flexible passage out.
:: Thailand cave rescue: What are the options for rescuers?
James Yenbamroong, of a Thai aerospace company, confirmed on Twitter that Mr Musk's team had offered to help on Friday.
He tweeted: "SpaceX team reached out to us today to help connect to Thai govt. Our team connected and provided some prep feedback to your team. For pumps, cave has narrowest 70cm cross section and about 5km to 13 guys. For vertical drill, it's about 1/2 mile down and tricky."
Mr Musk replied: "Maybe worth trying: insert a 1m diameter nylon tube (or shorter set of tubes for most difficult sections) through cave network & inflate with air like a bouncy castle. Should create an air tunnel underwater against cave roof & auto-conform to odd shapes like the 70cm hole."
He also suggested making tubes and pods out of Kevlar "for better abrasion resistance" - which Mr Yenbamroong said was "great".
Musk added: "Continue to be amazed by the bravery, resilience & tenacity of kids & diving team in Thailand.
"Human character at its best."
One of the main working theories of how to retrieve the boys is to train them to dive out of the cave.
The boys are said to be in good health and have practised wearing diving masks and breathing in preparation for the potential complex dive.
However, the dive is complex - with one Navy SEAL dying during the rescue efforts - and many of the boys do not know how to swim.
Alternative options are being considered, including finding a shaft or drilling into the mountain in which the cave is located. Another option is to wait until the monsoon season ends in several months and for the waters trapping them to recede.
The amount of oxygen in the cave is diminishing, forcing rescuers to attempt to establish a line to pump in fresh air.
It comes as those trapped in the cave have sent out notes to their loved ones, including a letter of apology from the coach.