“I think we’ll see the real Hue Jackson,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Saturday as he and his wife Dee reaffirmed their support for the coach, who will have 24 prominent new players to work with this season.
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Browns’ Jackson gets ‘unwavering’ support
MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) — Tony Sparano once beat Bill Belichick with the single wing, but wasn’t as old as that made him sound. Sparano was only 56 when he died unexpectedly Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings announced his death in a statement that did not provide a cause. He had been the Vikings’ offensive line coach since 2016. Sparano also served as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2012, replacing Brian Schottenheimer under head coach Rex Ryan. Our deepest condolences are with Coach Sparano’s family and the entire Vikings organization. https://t.co/vsd2Rb7ij0 — New York Jets (@nyjets) July 22, 2018 The most memorable moment in Sparano’s 19-year NFL coaching career came in 2008, when he was a rookie head coach with the Miami Dolphins, inheriting a team that had gone 1-15 the previous season. In Week 3 he surprised Belichick with a single wing-style formation that the Dolphins called the wildcat, and they won at New England 38-13. The wildcat became a fad around the league, and the stunning upset propelled Sparano’s team to 11 wins and the AFC East title. It’s one of two playoff berths for the franchise since 2002. That was Sparano’s lone winning season, and he was fired in 2011 after going 29-32 in Miami. He was popular with his players, but a dismal home record, declining attendance and a falling-out with general manager Jeff Ireland accelerated his firing by owner Stephen Ross. Sparano was the Oakland Raiders’ interim head coach in 2014 after the team fired Dennis Allen, and he went 3-9. He also worked as an assistant for the Browns, Redskins, Jaguars, Cowboys and 49ers, and most recently for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. “I love Tony Sparano,” Zimmer said in a statement. “He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker and had a toughness and fighting spirit that showed in our linemen. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us, but Tony will be sorely missed by all.” Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur worked with Sparano for the past two years in Minnesota. Coach Pat Shurmur shares his thoughts on the passing of Tony Sparano. pic.twitter.com/6BXPdQcaxv — New York Giants (@Giants) July 22, 2018 “We both showed up at the same time,” Shurmur said in a statement. “We were the new guys, we quickly became friends and it didn’t take long for me to realize and respect what a good person and good coach he was.” Sparano’s former players also paid tribute. “Heart broken and lost for words! We lost a great man,” tweeted Brian Hartline, who played receiver for Sparano in Miami. “Damn I’m at a loss for words,” tweeted Raiders Pro Bowl tackle Donald Penn. “Coach Sparano taught me so much not just about football about life also.” Sparano played at the University of New Haven where he was a four-year letterman. He was hired as New Haven’s head coach in 1994 and held that position for five seasons. In Miami, Sparano lost his first two games before turning to the wildcat. Six times they ran plays from the formation at New England, snapping the ball directly to running back Ronnie Brown, and four of those plays resulted in touchdowns. “It was like playing hide and go seek, making them guess,” Brown said at the time. Sparano said the Dolphins began practicing the wildcat during training camp but waited until the Patriots game to spring it. “This is not something that just came up and we scribbled on the board a couple of days ago,” the coach said. Defenses soon adjusted, and a sputtering offense in Sparano’s final two seasons at Miami contributed to his firing. But the Dolphins haven’t won at New England since the wildcat game. “We were saddened to learn of Tony Sparano’s tragic and unexpected passing,” owner Ross said in a statement. “Tony made an indelible impact on our team’s history. His toughness, grit and leadership were evident to everyone who had the chance to coach with or play for him.” (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Ex-Jets Offensive Coordinator Tony Sparano Dies At 56
MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) — Tony Sparano once beat Bill Belichick with the single wing, but wasn’t as old as that made him sound. Sparano was only 56 when he died unexpectedly Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings announced his death in a statement that did not provide a cause. He had been the Vikings’ offensive line coach since 2016. Sparano also served as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2012, replacing Brian Schottenheimer under head coach Rex Ryan. Our deepest condolences are with Coach Sparano’s family and the entire Vikings organization. https://t.co/vsd2Rb7ij0 — New York Jets (@nyjets) July 22, 2018 The most memorable moment in Sparano’s 19-year NFL coaching career came in 2008, when he was a rookie head coach with the Miami Dolphins, inheriting a team that had gone 1-15 the previous season. In Week 3 he surprised Belichick with a single wing-style formation that the Dolphins called the wildcat, and they won at New England 38-13. The wildcat became a fad around the league, and the stunning upset propelled Sparano’s team to 11 wins and the AFC East title. It’s one of two playoff berths for the franchise since 2002. That was Sparano’s lone winning season, and he was fired in 2011 after going 29-32 in Miami. He was popular with his players, but a dismal home record, declining attendance and a falling-out with general manager Jeff Ireland accelerated his firing by owner Stephen Ross. Sparano was the Oakland Raiders’ interim head coach in 2014 after the team fired Dennis Allen, and he went 3-9. He also worked as an assistant for the Browns, Redskins, Jaguars, Cowboys and 49ers, and most recently for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. “I love Tony Sparano,” Zimmer said in a statement. “He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker and had a toughness and fighting spirit that showed in our linemen. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us, but Tony will be sorely missed by all.” Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur worked with Sparano for the past two years in Minnesota. Coach Pat Shurmur shares his thoughts on the passing of Tony Sparano. pic.twitter.com/6BXPdQcaxv — New York Giants (@Giants) July 22, 2018 “We both showed up at the same time,” Shurmur said in a statement. “We were the new guys, we quickly became friends and it didn’t take long for me to realize and respect what a good person and good coach he was.” Sparano’s former players also paid tribute. “Heart broken and lost for words! We lost a great man,” tweeted Brian Hartline, who played receiver for Sparano in Miami. “Damn I’m at a loss for words,” tweeted Raiders Pro Bowl tackle Donald Penn. “Coach Sparano taught me so much not just about football about life also.” Sparano played at the University of New Haven where he was a four-year letterman. He was hired as New Haven’s head coach in 1994 and held that position for five seasons. In Miami, Sparano lost his first two games before turning to the wildcat. Six times they ran plays from the formation at New England, snapping the ball directly to running back Ronnie Brown, and four of those plays resulted in touchdowns. “It was like playing hide and go seek, making them guess,” Brown said at the time. Sparano said the Dolphins began practicing the wildcat during training camp but waited until the Patriots game to spring it. “This is not something that just came up and we scribbled on the board a couple of days ago,” the coach said. Defenses soon adjusted, and a sputtering offense in Sparano’s final two seasons at Miami contributed to his firing. But the Dolphins haven’t won at New England since the wildcat game. “We were saddened to learn of Tony Sparano’s tragic and unexpected passing,” owner Ross said in a statement. “Tony made an indelible impact on our team’s history. His toughness, grit and leadership were evident to everyone who had the chance to coach with or play for him.” (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Ex-Jets Offensive Coordinator Tony Sparano Dies At 56
The last group of boys and their coach were rescued from a cave in Thailand Tuesday. Now their recovery starts, nearly three weeks after they first went missing. CBS News correspondent Anna Werner has the latest.
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Boys rescued from Thai cave start their recovery
(CBS News) — The third phase of the high-risk rescue operation for the boys and their coach trapped in a cave in Thailand played out quickly on Tuesday. Hours after Thai officials confirmed that 19 divers had entered the cave complex in Chiang Rai province to extract the remaining four children and their assistant coach, several of them were brought out on stretchers . Four boys were rescued Sunday and an additional four emerged on Monday. The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach became stranded when they went exploring inside after a practice game. Monsoon flooding blocked their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. Watch: Long-term effects for trapped kids Read: Thai Navy SEAL team posts touching photo Read: Illinois restaurant owner joins Thai cave rescue effort Rescuers have been taking the strongest boys out first. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the reasoning for that was that officials wanted the boys who have the best chance of surviving to get through the escape route first. Soccer team all safe The last young members of the Wild Boars soccer team are believed to be out of the sprawling cave complex in northern Thailand where they were trapped for more than a week. Officials confirmed to CBS News that all 12 players and their assistant coach were safe on Tuesday. The 12th member of the team was brought out of the cave complex on a stretcher only about eight hours after officials announced Tuesday’s 3rd phase of the rescue operation. The 25-year-old assistant coach was the last out. The conditions of the boys pulled out of the cave on Tuesday, and their coach, remains unclear, but officials have said the eight previously rescued are in relatively good health at a hospital in Chiang Rai. Only a doctor and three Thai Navy SEALS who helped with the rescue effort will still need to get out safely before the operation is wrapped up.
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Thai Cave Rescue: Soccer Team All Out Of Flooded Cave
A second round of rescue operations in Thailand is working to save more members of a youth soccer team and their coach trapped in a cave since June 23. A sixth and seventh person were taken out on stretchers Monday and are about to be transported to the hopsital. Ben Tracy reports from Chiang Rai.
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More boys carried out in Thailand cave rescue
Officials in Thailand say the operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach is going better than expected. So far 4 boys have been taken out of that flooded cave. CBS News foreign correspondent Ben Tracy reports.; Wounded warrior Peter Damon’s injuries helped him discover a talent he never knew he had. Despite losing both arms in Iraq, Damon is now an artist creating about 30 paintings a year. David Martin reports.
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7/8: CBS Evening News
Officials in Thailand say the operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach is going better than expected. So far 4 boys have been taken out of that flooded cave. CBS News foreign correspondent Ben Tracy reports.
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Operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach continues
MAE SAI, Thailand (CBS News) — Rescuers in northern Thailand on Sunday extracted at least four members of a youth soccer team from the cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks, part of an ongoing operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach, officials said. The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring in the cave after a practice game. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. Narongsak Osottanakorn, who is in charge of the rescue mission, said Saturday conditions were currently “perfect,” BBC News reports. “Now and in the next three or four days, the conditions are perfect [for evacuation] in terms of the water, the weather and the boys’ health,” said Narongsak, governor of the Chiang Rai province, where the caves are. Rescue operation going “better than expected,” next phase to begin in 10-20 hours A Thai official says the next phase of the operation to rescue the rest of the trapped boys will begin in 10 to 20 hours as rescuers replenish their oxygen tanks. Speaking to reporters at a briefing near the cave on Sunday night, Chiang Rai provincial acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said the healthiest boys were taken out first, with the first two emerging at 5:40 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. local time, or 6:40 a.m. ET. Two others were brought out about two hours later. Narongsak said the operation was going “better than expected.” The four freed boys have been transported to the hospital, where they will be reunited with their families. Their condition was not known. Trump says U.S. “working very closely” with Thai government on rescue In his first tweet of the day, President Trump says the U.S. is working with Thai officials in the rescue operation: The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2018 Four of the 12 boys are now out of the cave complex, rescue officials told reporters during a briefing Sunday. The Thai navy SEALs say two were transported by ambulance from the cave, one of whom was airlifted in a helicopter. The SEALs say five of the 18 rescue divers were Thai, with American, Australian and Japanese divers assisting in the effort. 2 ambulances have left the cave pic.twitter.com/eloTLQYl0a — Dan Johnson (@DanJohnsonNews) July 8, 2018 At least 2 boys reportedly emerge safely from cave Multiple reports citing local officials say at least two of the trapped boys have emerged safely from the cave, arriving much sooner than expected. Reuters reports a local rescue official said the boys are being examined. “Two kids are out. They are currently at the field hospital near the cave,” Tossathep Boonthong, chief of Chiang Rai’s health department, told Reuters. The AP reports two ambulances were seen Sunday evening leaving the cave and drove to a nearby helipad where a helicopter was seen taking off. Officials had said earlier that helicopters were on standby to take anyone rescued from the cave to a hospital. Thai government releases details on rescue effort The Thai government has released a graphic with details of the rescue effort, BBC News’ Nick Beake reports. The graphic says that two divers are assigned to each boy and are being guided by rope. Thai government releases graphic about #thamluangcaverescue . Full face masks; 2 divers accompanying 1 boy; guided by rope. When facing a very narrow path, they will release the tank from back and slowly roll tank & guide the boy through. They walk from Chamber 3 to mouth of cave pic.twitter.com/pLUKa8lHfd — Nick Beake (@Beaking_News) July 8, 2018 Thai navy SEALs vow to bring boys back safely in Facebook post Thai navy SEALs vow to bring boys back safely in Facebook post The Thai navy SEALs, who have been spearheading the rescue effort, have posted a photo on their Facebook page with a vow to bring the trapped team home from a flooded cave. The unit says in a message: “We, the Thai team and the international team, will bring the Wild Boars home.” That’s the name of the young boys’ team. Water level in cave has been brought down to level where boys can walk for some of journey Authorities felt they had a “small window of time to act” to rescue the boys and their coach, CBS News’ Ben Tracy reports from Chiang Rai. Two divers will be assigned to each child to help them navigate the dangerous, narrow passageways. CBS News has also learned that water level inside the cave has been brought down to a level where the boys can walk for much for the journey rather than swim. That will make the operation less risky. Heavy rain is in the forecast and oxygen levels in the cave have been dropping to dangerous levels. “A really really tricky dive”: A look at some of the rescue’s challenges The rescue operation to save 12 boys and their coach from a cave will be “really, really tricky,” said Sink or Swim Scbua instructor Brent Clevenger in an interview with CBSN on Saturday. Clevenger said the biggest concerns look like the tight passageways, strong currents and low visiblity. It’s estimated that it will take the divers several hours to reach the boys, and then several hours to return. Each rescue is estimated to take about 11 hours, officials said. As Clevenger noted to CBSN, a diver will need to change tanks, making it a “really, really tricky dive for an experienced diver on his own.” Clevenger also said another concern will be the oxygen levels. If carbon dioxide builds up and oxygen runs low, it could potentially cause panic, unconsciousness and even death. On Thursday, a former Thai Navy SEAL who was part of the rescue mission died from lack of oxygen, authorities. Of course, the boys are only now learning to dive, and Clevenger said he normally teaches boys to dive in shallow water, so they can stand up if they panic. In this case, the boys will be going through passageways where they can’t stand up. And even if the boys are with experienced divers, the narrow passageways will make it hard for the experienced divers to check on any boy who might be panicking. “I think the best rescue option is to teach them to dive, try to get multiple divers watching one boy at a time and just do the best with it,” Clevenger said. “I would say there’s not a good option, there’s just a bset option that we have, but like I said, there’s no good option at this point.” Rescue mission could take days The rescue operation began at 10 a.m. local time, and it will take at least 11 hours for the first person to be rescued, Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osottanakorn said. The rescue mission could take several days. Both the trapped group and their families had been informed of the plan, BBC News reports. The boys will be medically evaluated when they are out of the cave. There are 13 ambulances and helicopaters ready to transport the boys to local hospitals if necessary. The nearest hospital is 15 minutes away by helicopter, BBC News reports. Narongsak said the boys are ready and willing to be brought out. “Their hearts are strong and determined,” he said. “Today is D-Day,” Thai governor says A Thai governor says the operation to bring out the boys and their soccer coach from deep inside a cave where they have been trapped for two weeks has begun. The acting Chiang Rai governor has told reporters “today is D-Day” with 13 foreigner and five Thai divers taking part in the rescue. He says the divers went in at 10 a.m. and the boys will gradually come out accompanied by two divers each. He says the earliest they will come out is 9 p.m. Sunday (10 a.m. ET). The only way to bring them out is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air. Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are. The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages. But the governor supervising the mission said earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that won’t last if it rains again. Dozens of divers arrive at cave Dozens of divers arrived at the Tham Luang cave on Sunday morning and officials set up more tarpaulin sheets blocking off the divers’ operating area. Officials ask media to clear out Thai authorities asked media to clear out of the area around the entrance of the cave. “Everyone who is not involved with the operations has to get out of the area immediately,” police announced via loudspeaker, AFP reports. “From the situation assessment, we need to use the area to help victims,” police said.
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Thailand Cave Rescue: 4 Boys Successfully Rescued From Cave — Live Updates
MAE SAI, Thailand (CBS News) — Rescuers in northern Thailand on Sunday extracted at least four members of a youth soccer team from the cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks, part of an ongoing operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach, officials said. The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring in the cave after a practice game. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. Narongsak Osottanakorn, who is in charge of the rescue mission, said Saturday conditions were currently “perfect,” BBC News reports. “Now and in the next three or four days, the conditions are perfect [for evacuation] in terms of the water, the weather and the boys’ health,” said Narongsak, governor of the Chiang Rai province, where the caves are. Rescue operation going “better than expected,” next phase to begin in 10-20 hours A Thai official says the next phase of the operation to rescue the rest of the trapped boys will begin in 10 to 20 hours as rescuers replenish their oxygen tanks. Speaking to reporters at a briefing near the cave on Sunday night, Chiang Rai provincial acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said the healthiest boys were taken out first, with the first two emerging at 5:40 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. local time, or 6:40 a.m. ET. Two others were brought out about two hours later. Narongsak said the operation was going “better than expected.” The four freed boys have been transported to the hospital, where they will be reunited with their families. Their condition was not known. Trump says U.S. “working very closely” with Thai government on rescue In his first tweet of the day, President Trump says the U.S. is working with Thai officials in the rescue operation: The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2018 Four of the 12 boys are now out of the cave complex, rescue officials told reporters during a briefing Sunday. The Thai navy SEALs say two were transported by ambulance from the cave, one of whom was airlifted in a helicopter. The SEALs say five of the 18 rescue divers were Thai, with American, Australian and Japanese divers assisting in the effort. 2 ambulances have left the cave pic.twitter.com/eloTLQYl0a — Dan Johnson (@DanJohnsonNews) July 8, 2018 At least 2 boys reportedly emerge safely from cave Multiple reports citing local officials say at least two of the trapped boys have emerged safely from the cave, arriving much sooner than expected. Reuters reports a local rescue official said the boys are being examined. “Two kids are out. They are currently at the field hospital near the cave,” Tossathep Boonthong, chief of Chiang Rai’s health department, told Reuters. The AP reports two ambulances were seen Sunday evening leaving the cave and drove to a nearby helipad where a helicopter was seen taking off. Officials had said earlier that helicopters were on standby to take anyone rescued from the cave to a hospital. Thai government releases details on rescue effort The Thai government has released a graphic with details of the rescue effort, BBC News’ Nick Beake reports. The graphic says that two divers are assigned to each boy and are being guided by rope. Thai government releases graphic about #thamluangcaverescue . Full face masks; 2 divers accompanying 1 boy; guided by rope. When facing a very narrow path, they will release the tank from back and slowly roll tank & guide the boy through. They walk from Chamber 3 to mouth of cave pic.twitter.com/pLUKa8lHfd — Nick Beake (@Beaking_News) July 8, 2018 Thai navy SEALs vow to bring boys back safely in Facebook post Thai navy SEALs vow to bring boys back safely in Facebook post The Thai navy SEALs, who have been spearheading the rescue effort, have posted a photo on their Facebook page with a vow to bring the trapped team home from a flooded cave. The unit says in a message: “We, the Thai team and the international team, will bring the Wild Boars home.” That’s the name of the young boys’ team. Water level in cave has been brought down to level where boys can walk for some of journey Authorities felt they had a “small window of time to act” to rescue the boys and their coach, CBS News’ Ben Tracy reports from Chiang Rai. Two divers will be assigned to each child to help them navigate the dangerous, narrow passageways. CBS News has also learned that water level inside the cave has been brought down to a level where the boys can walk for much for the journey rather than swim. That will make the operation less risky. Heavy rain is in the forecast and oxygen levels in the cave have been dropping to dangerous levels. “A really really tricky dive”: A look at some of the rescue’s challenges The rescue operation to save 12 boys and their coach from a cave will be “really, really tricky,” said Sink or Swim Scbua instructor Brent Clevenger in an interview with CBSN on Saturday. Clevenger said the biggest concerns look like the tight passageways, strong currents and low visiblity. It’s estimated that it will take the divers several hours to reach the boys, and then several hours to return. Each rescue is estimated to take about 11 hours, officials said. As Clevenger noted to CBSN, a diver will need to change tanks, making it a “really, really tricky dive for an experienced diver on his own.” Clevenger also said another concern will be the oxygen levels. If carbon dioxide builds up and oxygen runs low, it could potentially cause panic, unconsciousness and even death. On Thursday, a former Thai Navy SEAL who was part of the rescue mission died from lack of oxygen, authorities. Of course, the boys are only now learning to dive, and Clevenger said he normally teaches boys to dive in shallow water, so they can stand up if they panic. In this case, the boys will be going through passageways where they can’t stand up. And even if the boys are with experienced divers, the narrow passageways will make it hard for the experienced divers to check on any boy who might be panicking. “I think the best rescue option is to teach them to dive, try to get multiple divers watching one boy at a time and just do the best with it,” Clevenger said. “I would say there’s not a good option, there’s just a bset option that we have, but like I said, there’s no good option at this point.” Rescue mission could take days The rescue operation began at 10 a.m. local time, and it will take at least 11 hours for the first person to be rescued, Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osottanakorn said. The rescue mission could take several days. Both the trapped group and their families had been informed of the plan, BBC News reports. The boys will be medically evaluated when they are out of the cave. There are 13 ambulances and helicopaters ready to transport the boys to local hospitals if necessary. The nearest hospital is 15 minutes away by helicopter, BBC News reports. Narongsak said the boys are ready and willing to be brought out. “Their hearts are strong and determined,” he said. “Today is D-Day,” Thai governor says A Thai governor says the operation to bring out the boys and their soccer coach from deep inside a cave where they have been trapped for two weeks has begun. The acting Chiang Rai governor has told reporters “today is D-Day” with 13 foreigner and five Thai divers taking part in the rescue. He says the divers went in at 10 a.m. and the boys will gradually come out accompanied by two divers each. He says the earliest they will come out is 9 p.m. Sunday (10 a.m. ET). The only way to bring them out is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air. Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are. The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages. But the governor supervising the mission said earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that won’t last if it rains again. Dozens of divers arrive at cave Dozens of divers arrived at the Tham Luang cave on Sunday morning and officials set up more tarpaulin sheets blocking off the divers’ operating area. Officials ask media to clear out Thai authorities asked media to clear out of the area around the entrance of the cave. “Everyone who is not involved with the operations has to get out of the area immediately,” police announced via loudspeaker, AFP reports. “From the situation assessment, we need to use the area to help victims,” police said.
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Thailand Cave Rescue: 4 Boys Successfully Rescued From Cave — Live Updates
MAE SAI, Thailand (CBS News/AP) — The soccer coach trapped in a cave with 12 Thai boys has apologized to their parents in the first letter he and the team have sent out through divers. The boys wrote letters to their parents saying “don’t worry … we are strong,” BBC News reports . The 25-year-old coach says: “To the parents of all the kids, right now the kids are all fine, the crew are taking good care. I promise I will care for the kids as best as possible. I want to say thanks for all the support and I want to apologize to the parents.” Rescuers say they won’t immediately attempt an underwater evacuation because the boys have not yet learned adequate diving skills. But if heavy rains start again, divers will try to take the boys out right away. The boys also wrote they are doing well and missing their families. The group’s handwritten notes include requests for different types of food. “Teacher, don’t give us lots of homework!” read one. Narongsak Osotthanakorn, governor of the Chiang Rai region, said Friday the health of most of the boys had “improved to normal,” according to BBC News . Narongsak, who is in immediate charge of the operation, indicated at a news conference, however, that if heavy rains started and appeared to be causing flooded areas in the cave to rise again, divers would try to take the boys out right away. Thai officials had been suggesting in public statements that a quick underwater evacuation of the boys and their soccer coach was needed because of the possibility that access to the cave could soon close again due to seasonal monsoon rains expected this weekend. Cave rescue specialists have cautioned against that approach except as a last resort, because of the dangers posed by inexperienced people using diving gear. The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in some narrow flooded passages. Earlier Friday, Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said there is a “limited amount of time” to rescue the boys and the coach. “We can no longer wait for all conditions (to be ready) because circumstances are pressuring us,” Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said at a news conference. “We originally thought the boys can stay safe inside the cave for quite some time but circumstances have changed.” A suggestion that the trapped team might have to wait months inside until a safe way out in available — as was the case in 2010 with Chilean miners trapped underground — has met with little enthusiasm. Authorities continue to pursue a third option, which is finding a shaft or drilling into the mountain in which the cave is located to find a sort of back door entrance. The boys, 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. The only way to reach them was by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents. Asked at his midnight news conference about taking the boys out underwater , the governor replied, “Not today because they cannot dive at this time.” Narongsak said the boys were still healthy and have practiced wearing diving masks and breathing in preparation for the diving possibility. According to BBC News, teams of Thai and international divers have been supplying the boys and the coach with food, oxygen and medical attention. But there are mounting concerns about the oxygen level in the chamber, which officials said had fallen to 15 percent from the usual level of 21 percent. With the oxygen levels inside getting lower as more workers enter, authorities on Friday were trying to install a 3-mile-long oxygen tube to pump in air, CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reported. The rescue effort suffered a disheartening setback Friday with the death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diving in the flooded passageways to deliver supplies, as authorities raced against worsening weather and lessening oxygen. © 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Thai Soccer Coach Apologizes To Parents As Boys Trapped In Cave Write ‘Do Not Worry’ In Letters Home
(CNN) — A former Thai Navy diver who had volunteered to help rescue 12 boys and their coach from a cave in northern Thailand has died, according to government officials . Former Sgt. Samarn Unan, an ex-SEAL, died at 2:00 a.m. Friday local time (2 p.m. Thursday ET) due to a lack of air while attempting to return to a command center deep underground, Deputy Governor Passakorn Boonyalak said. The command center is located two kilometers (1.2 miles) inside the cave, where the young soccer team and their coach have been trapped for almost two weeks. Unan, who was in his mid-30s, was returning from delivering oxygen tanks to the cavern where the boys when are he ran out of air while underwater. “Diving is always full of risks,” Navy SEAL chief Rear Adm. Aphakorn Yookongkaew said. “He may have passed out,” causing him to drown, “but we have to wait for the autopsy,” he added. A military aircraft will carry Unan’s body from Chiang Rai to Satthahip Navy Base this evening. International operation A huge operation is underway at the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex, where dozens of Thai Navy SEALs and international experts are attempting to find a way to get the boys out. The members of the Wild Boar soccer team were reported missing on June 23 when they didn’t return from an outing after soccer practice. They entered the cave during fine weather but became trapped when a sudden downpour flooded the narrow tunnels. The 12 boys and their coach were found deep inside the cave by two British cave divers on Monday, perched on a rock slab above flood waters, after nine days without food or fresh water. Since then, rescuers have been examining ways to bring the boys out, including fitting them with full-face oxygen masks and accompanying them on a long, dangerous swim through the tunnels. However, the death of an experienced diver in the cave system underlines the inherent risks in attempting to move the boys, who are physically weak after days without food. It takes even the most experienced divers up to five hours to swim through jagged, narrow channels from where the boys are to safety outside. Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Cade Courtley, a former US Navy SEAL said bringing the children out through the flooded tunnels could be treacherous. He says that even divers with considerable expertise have been “climbing up, climbing through, going (through water with) zero visibility to finally get through the team. “Now you’re going to ask 11 to (16) year olds — some of whom can not swim — to make that same journey for the first time breathing air underwater? “I think that’s a terrible mistake given some of the options we have.” — Kocha Olarn and Euan McKirdy The-CNN-Wire ( & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)
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Thai Cave Rescue: Former Navy Diver Dies While Exiting Flooded Tunnels
(CNN) — A former Thai Navy diver who had volunteered to help rescue 12 boys and their coach from a cave in northern Thailand has died, according to government officials . Former Sgt. Samarn Unan, an ex-SEAL, died at 2:00 a.m. Friday local time (2 p.m. Thursday ET) due to a lack of air while attempting to return to a command center deep underground, Deputy Governor Passakorn Boonyalak said. The command center is located two kilometers (1.2 miles) inside the cave, where the young soccer team and their coach have been trapped for almost two weeks. Unan, who was in his mid-30s, was returning from delivering oxygen tanks to the cavern where the boys when are he ran out of air while underwater. “Diving is always full of risks,” Navy SEAL chief Rear Adm. Aphakorn Yookongkaew said. “He may have passed out,” causing him to drown, “but we have to wait for the autopsy,” he added. A military aircraft will carry Unan’s body from Chiang Rai to Satthahip Navy Base this evening. International operation A huge operation is underway at the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex, where dozens of Thai Navy SEALs and international experts are attempting to find a way to get the boys out. The members of the Wild Boar soccer team were reported missing on June 23 when they didn’t return from an outing after soccer practice. They entered the cave during fine weather but became trapped when a sudden downpour flooded the narrow tunnels. The 12 boys and their coach were found deep inside the cave by two British cave divers on Monday, perched on a rock slab above flood waters, after nine days without food or fresh water. Since then, rescuers have been examining ways to bring the boys out, including fitting them with full-face oxygen masks and accompanying them on a long, dangerous swim through the tunnels. However, the death of an experienced diver in the cave system underlines the inherent risks in attempting to move the boys, who are physically weak after days without food. It takes even the most experienced divers up to five hours to swim through jagged, narrow channels from where the boys are to safety outside. Speaking to CNN Wednesday, Cade Courtley, a former US Navy SEAL said bringing the children out through the flooded tunnels could be treacherous. He says that even divers with considerable expertise have been “climbing up, climbing through, going (through water with) zero visibility to finally get through the team. “Now you’re going to ask 11 to (16) year olds — some of whom can not swim — to make that same journey for the first time breathing air underwater? “I think that’s a terrible mistake given some of the options we have.” — Kocha Olarn and Euan McKirdy The-CNN-Wire ( & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)
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Thai Cave Rescue: Former Navy Diver Dies While Exiting Flooded Tunnels
Young soccer players and their coach remain trapped in a cave in Thailand. Rescue efforts could get even more complicated if monsoon rains hit the area. CBS News foreign correspondent Ben Tracy reports.
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New urgency in cave rescue effort as monsoon rains approach
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