As he often likes to do with just about anything, Elon Musk recently inserted himself into the dramatic rescue effort currently underway to free a Thai soccer team and their coach from the flooded Tham Luang cave system in northern Thailand. After building a child-sized submarine to assist with the rescue, Musk himself was today onsite inside the cave.
We know old mate has been lurching around the caves himself because he posted visuals to both Instagram and Twitter today. “Just returned from Cave 3,” the tweet begins. “Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts and named Wild Boar after kids’ soccer team.”
Just returned from Cave 3. Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids’ soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the future. Thailand is so beautiful. pic.twitter.com/EHNh8ydaTT
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2018
The Instagram post features video taken by Musk while wading through the water inside the cave. Elon, this is not necessary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlBr_mAA9n3/?utm_source=ig_embed
Just yesterday morning, Musk posted a video of divers guiding the aforementioned mini-sub through a gap meant to simulate the cave’s tight passages, which can apparently get as narrow as 70cm in some areas.
Simulating maneuvering through a narrow passage pic.twitter.com/2z01Ut3vxJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2018
Eight of the boys have already been rescued by divers who fitted them with face masks and guided them through the 4km passageway, so whether Musk’s sub will even be required now is being questioned. He’s also clarified that his team has “not done anything useful yet. It is all other people.”
The former governor of the Chiang Rai province, Narongsak Osottanakorn, today said that the remaining rescues should be up to two hours faster than the previous extractions. Hopefully the remaining boys get out quickly and safely.
