By the time he reached Plura, he had to break a thin layer of ice to climb out of the water. ", Listen to Vesa Rantanen and Sami Paakkarinen speaking to Outlook on the BBC World Service, Follow William Kremer on Twitter @williamkremer. A new documentary, currently on release in Finland, depicts what happened. However, the toughest hurdle is that if the person bringing the case is regarded as a public figure - and 'public figure' is given a pretty wide interpretation - it has to be proved that the defendant acted maliciously. The documents said a separate lawsuit would be filed in England. cave On the third day, 24 March, the divers began the recovery itself, slipping once again beneath the icy lid of Plura, accompanied by underwater camera operators. 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. John was further made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, yet he hasnt let any of these aspects affect his work as a South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team Member or a senior IT consultant at Comparket. How Ben Afflecks Air Makes the Case for Movie Theaters to Build Buzz, How Succession Trapped the Roy Family in a VIP Room of Grief in Episode 3, Movies Shot on Film 2023 Preview: From Oppenheimer to Killers of the Flower Moon and Maestro, How Gene Kelly and Singin in the Rain Taught John Wick to Fight, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. 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. Mr Unsworth told CNN that the submarine was "just a PR stunt [that] had absolutely no chance of working" and said Mr Musk could "stick his submarine where it hurts". The boys, ages 11-16, were found July 2 by Volanthen and Stanton, according to the lawsuit. Described as the A Team of 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. "If we had done a practice run then, things would have been different. WebVolanthen frequently cave dives and conducts rescues with a partner, Richard Stanton . Having the bodies would help the families grieve, and would also help to prevent lengthy delays to insurance and inheritance settlements. Stanton says that he and his fellow divers considered it, and decided it was too risky. The youngest, then 11-year-old Chanin Titan Viboonrungruang is precisely on this path, along with now 17-year-olds Panumart Mix Saengdee, Duangphet Dom Phomthep, and Mongkol Mark Boonpiem. Is climate change killing Australian wine? The two divers were welcomed at Chiang Rai airport with a banner that read: The Worlds Best Cave Divers. The cave divers who went back for their friends It's their calling. John has been recognised by a number of organisations for his cave rescue work: Record holding diver John Volanthen is best known for his participation in the Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand. A clip from Diving into the Unknown, directed by Juan Reina, used with permission of Monami Agency. 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. 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. 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. Jill Lawless contributed to this report from London. Paakkarinen and Gronqvist continue the descent alone. "When you wake up and you see that there are 10 missed calls and 10 messages on the phone, you know immediately that something is wrong," he says. Two teams of support divers would work at shallower levels at both ends of the traverse, while Gronqvist, Paakkarinen and Kankanen would dive once again to the deepest section of the cave to raise the bodies up. At such depths and temperatures, a tear in a dry suit on the sharp cave floor could result in death. He actually prefers to keep every aspect of his life away from the limelight, so we regrettably dont know much about him apart from the fact he specializes as a rope-access technician in cave diving. The first amendment of the United States Constitution which protects free speech makes defamation a challenging legal action to bring. The following afternoon they went to the local police station. He isnt happy unless hes swimming around a claustrophobic hellscape and exploring some of the only alien terrain left on Earth. Mr Unsworth did not take part in the dives but had previously explored the cave complex extensively. 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. cave Stanton was also part of a team that attempted a cave rescue of Eric Establie, in the Dragonnire Gaud Cave near Labastide-de-Virac in the Ardche region of France, in 2010 which was ultimately unsuccessful. "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. He was offered free legal services. The lawsuit states that with the tweet, Musk sought to tell the average reader that Unsworths failure to sue at the time was evidence that Unsworth is a pedophile. Stanton says that he and his fellow divers considered it, and decided it was too risky. All Rights Reserved. Rick, 60, tells how he started dating Thai girl Amp Bangnoen when he was introduced to her by a military pal he had saved from a cave in Mexico. After a brief effort to free the body, he forced himself to calm down. They pass the floating body of Jari Uusimaki. Read about our approach to external linking. Thai cave rescue: Rick Stanton says he Best known as the first diver to locate and contact the missing youth Thai soccer team alongside long time diving partner Rick Stanton. British cave divers Richard Stanton (2nd-L), Robert Charles Harper (3rd Rick Stanton, from Coventry, Mr Unsworth filed the suit in California. "It's a code that no-one is left behind," he says. A post shared by Richard Harris (@richard.harris_). Cave Diving Where is Water Engineer Thanet Natisri Now. So the Norwegian police called off the recovery. 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. 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). The Lufthansa electrician took up cave diving 20 years ago, and exploration became his passion after he moved to Ireland. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. In 2018. "My options were to try to pass that dead diver, or to turn around and try to do a very long dive back, go back to the deepest section and try to survive to the surface. Stanton is on [] He works as a part-time Specialist 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. "I don't say that there was no risk to us," says Paakkarinen. In gripping footage, the divers' torches catch the jagged edges of the cave walls. To view this content choose accept and continue. "Why do these guys who have families and everything, why do they go to these harsh places?" 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. Gronqvist gave him a cylinder of gas to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in his system, but while Huotarinen was switching mouthpieces, he started helplessly swallowing water. The full story of Thailands extraordinary cave rescue, Mr Musk reignited the row earlier this month, 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. The moment you see the people who answer it, youll know why this ordeal had to be made into a movie. It proved a more difficult day than they anticipated. He recommended that the Thai government seek help from divers in the United Kingdom, and Unsworth called friend and fellow diver Rob Harper. 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. Musk and engineers from his rocket company, SpaceX, built a small submarine and shipped it to Thailand to help with the rescue. Cave He says that while people who have never been cave diving might think it's so dangerous that a few people will inevitably die, with proper training and planning, accidents such as this should never happen to experienced divers. 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. We should mention the cycling enthusiast is actually so respected in his field that hes now deemed a highly-sought speaker at any caving, diving, rescuing, and adventure conferences. John has been involved in exploring and mapping caves throughout the world, including the UK, Europe, and Malaysia. 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 subsequent fortnight was a whirlwind. Musk called Unsworth a pedo in a tweet to his 22.5 million followers after Unsworth criticized Musk in a July 13 television interview with CNN about the rescue. The trip was at the extreme end of a dangerous sport. This Article is related to: Film, Reviews and tagged free solo, Reviews, Telluride Film Festival, The Rescue. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! The Film Industry Lost Some Titans This Year What Happens Now? He also worked with Mortensen and the other actors to make their movements feel authentic to cave diving. A British cave diver is suing tech billionaire Elon Musk for defamation after his repeated claims the diver is a child abuser. Krisher reported from Detroit. Its a portrait of incredible generosity that leaves behind a visceral understanding of where that generosity ends. This is a pocket of air that divers can use during decompression stops, allowing them to get out of the cold water, remove their masks and even eat. "I told her that they are not going to be left there, that we would think of something.". Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! In Wookey hole in the UK, alongside Rick Stanton, John advanced the British cave diving depth record to over 90M. He was part of a team that attempted a cave rescue of Eric Establie in 2010, in the British divers at heart of Thai cave rescue among best in world 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. Up until the summer of 2018, not many people had heard of Stanton. But on Aug. 28, Musk tweeted about Unsworth once again, writing: You dont think its strange he hasnt sued me? And when he learned of the soccer team trapped in Tham Luang, he didnt hesitate to call them starting with record-holding cave-diver (and IT consultant) John Volanthen, who becomes his stalwart right-hand man. normal' for Thai cave rescuer who lives in Clare When 12 members of a junior soccer team by the name of Wild Boars and their assistant coach decided to explore the Tham Luang caves on June 23, 2018, they never expected it to become an ordeal. Biography - John Volanthen The Brits behind the Thai cave boys search, In pictures: Thai artists' huge mural of cave rescue heroes, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Fighter jets are roaring over my home in Sudan, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. British diver who rescued Gronqvist is the first to surface, eventually, in Steinugleflaget, where Vesa Rantanen is waiting to greet him. 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. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. 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. 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. The device wasnt used and in the interview, Unsworth called it a PR stunt and said it wouldnt have worked to free the boys who were trapped in the flooded cave. More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Fighter jets are roaring over my home in Sudan, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. Vernon Unsworth helped with the rescue of 12 Thai teenagers from a flooded cave in July. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. It was a preposterous plan: Behind the scenes of the Thai cave rescue Rick Stanton was one of the divers who saved 12 boys and their football coach from a John continues to explore and document underwater caves throughout the world. The Rescue is first and foremost a riveting, immersive, stomach-in-your-throat documentary about the youth soccer team who were trapped deep within a flooded cave in Northern Thailand during the summer of 2018. 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. As if thats not enough, he has even obtained a Bravery Award from his home county of Somerset, South West England he resides in the village of Cheddar here with his wife, Laura Trowbridge. In interviews, Kankanen has said his memories of exactly what happened are sketchy (he was unavailable to contribute to this article). (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Thats where he carefully builds his skills, serves part-time at the Specialist Anaesthetic Service Medical Center, and works to expand his prospects as a public speaker and beyond. John played a key role in the Tham Luang Thailand cave rescue. In February 2014 two divers died at a depth of more than 100m in a huge cave system in Norway. British divers John Volanthen and Rick Stanton were the two divers who first discovered the 12 boys and their coach in the cave system. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? That's why I wanted to take the viewers on that journey. He first started going to Thailand in 2011, where he explored and mapped caves, the documents stated. As part of an International team, John set a world record for the longest cave diving distance from surface, well over 10km. 2023 BBC. He was Retired firefighter Rick Stanton is an almost 60-year-old British man who vaguely resembles the Hound from Game of Thrones, and seems to possess equivalent social graces. "You always have to do your best to get your friends out, wherever they are.". Despite everything, Gronqvist, Rantanen, Kankanen and Paakkarinen continue to enjoy the sport. 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. The following day Gronqvist and Paakkarinen returned to retrieve Jari Uusimaki's body, assisted at depth by another diver, Jani Santala. However, he has since received the Bronze Cross, the Royal Humane Societys Bronze Medal, the honor of Pride of Britain, the George Medal, and the Queens Gallantry Medal all in 2018 or 2019. 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. You wouldnt believe the particulars if I told you, but the film so vividly conveys why such a cockamamie scheme was necessary that you cant help but go along with it in the moment. 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. It says Mr Musk sometimes used his Twitter account and emails to "publish to the world false and defamatory accusations" against the Briton. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court Monday seeks more than $75,000 in damages and a court order stopping Musk from making further allegations. The three survivors were all hospitalised with decompression sickness. Later Musk deleted the tweets and apologized after being criticized by shareholders, the lawsuit alleged, stating in a tweet that his words were spoken in anger and that the sub was built out of kindness according to specifications from the dive team leader. Stephens did not say when Unsworth planned to file a claim in the British courts. John Volanthen - Wikipedia If you dive into this strange pond, known as Plura, and swim underground for half a kilometre, you will emerge into a long, colourful cave. Divers who have spent time in deep water cannot go straight to the surface because of the risk of decompression sickness, another potentially fatal hazard. A separate suit will follow in London, the filing says. After negotiating this "sump" - an underground pocket of water - you will finally ascend to the cave of Steinugleflaget. "This incident happened, and then they've made a film and they all come out as heroes," he says. 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 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. The Rescue premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival. The lawsuit seeks $75,000 (57,000) in compensation and an injunction against Mr Musk to stop further allegations. Two hours later, after the sediment raised by the first divers had been allowed to settle, three of their friends followed behind. Stanton usually cave dives and conducts rescues with a partner, John Volanthen. He finally emerged from the cave in the early hours of the next day, more than 11 hours after setting off on a dive that was supposed to take five hours. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. From Barbie to The Flash, Here Are the Movies That Made the Biggest Impact at CinemaCon. In other words that the person making the statement knew it to be false and went on to make it. But if you are highly trained and experienced - and an insatiably curious individual - you might continue on a course that quickly plunges much deeper, becoming narrow and difficult, through ice-cold, pitch-black water. The first diver in the second team was Vesa Rantanen. Stewart Cook/Shutterstock Rick Stanton with 'Thirteen Lives' star Viggo Mortensen.. Its a wonder how Vasarhelyi and Chin found this guy before Werner Herzog could invent him. Crucially however, Vasarhelyi and Chin also know their limits. But since leaving high school in the 1980s, hed quietly established himself as the pre Described as not the most domesticated of men, Stanton considers cave-diving to be a thinking activity which requires a lot of planning and needs a person to remain calm at all times. It also gives him the opportunity to explore places that no one else has been to before. 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. It was a preposterous plan: Behind the scenes of the Thai 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. Photographs courtesy of RICK STANTON "If you have to do anything physical - swim harder or faster or anything - that's very dangerous," says Gronqvist. This article contains content provided by Twitter. More importantly, though, Chris works as the Head of Professional Services at Access Group and is an active member of the British Cave Rescue Council to continue his explorations. 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. 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 Although there are two victims here, and a sad accident has happened - when you go through this journey with them, I hope people understand why they do this.". Then Gronqvist steers a dive scooter towards the surface, towing the body, while Paakkarinen follows to help manouevre it. It's Me, Margaret' to 'R.M.N. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. The Plura caves, a still from the recent documentary Diving into the Unknown, Vesa Rantanen, who was 33 in 2014, has been cave diving since 2007, Sami Paakkarinen, who was 34 in 2014, has been cave diving since 2004, The dazzling beauty of the long air chamber near Plura, where Paakkarinen and a group enjoyed a picnic last year.

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