The world is watching as Thailand attempts to rescue 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave system. It’s a story that has received universal attention, and even here in Lubbock, divers can’t believe just how dangerous the situation is.
“It’s ultimately their life on the line when they dive in there,” said Bill Glass, Lubbock Fire Dive Team coordinator. “It is immediately dangerous to their life and health because you can drown in even 20 inches of water.”
Rescuers are traveling more than a mile in muddy dangerous waters to reach the boys. Glass runs the dive team here in Lubbock, and he said he cannot imagine the difficulties they must be encountering.
“In my mind I’m thinking, ‘How are you going to get oxygen, running lines and telephone cables?'” said Glass. “All of these things create another issue as now they are diving through an entanglement hazard.”
While the Lubbock Fire Department Dive Team is not cave certified, they still understand the logistics needed to perform search and rescues. Matt McGinnis, a lieutenant at Station 19, says the divers in Thailand need to double check everything.
“Before we go into the water, we have to go over everything,” said McGinnis. “We have to concentrate on what we are doing, even if that means tuning everything else out.”
While you won’t find any caves in Lubbock, there are still plenty of times that the dive team is called out to help those in need. Lake Alan Henry is notorious for its trees and branches, which can cause a dangerous situation.
“On the surface of the lake it looks beautiful and smooth, but underneath it’s nothing but trees that can cause swimmers and divers alike to get hung up,” said Glass.
