Israel Participates in Thai Rescue
Israel helped in the rescue of a youth soccer team and their coach, trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand.
Two Israeli tech companies, Israel’s Navy and several Israeli divers were part of the rescue of 12 members of a youth soccer team and their coach, trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand for more than two weeks.
The last of the team were rescued July 10 after the caves they were exploring June 23 became submerged in rainwater floods.
The two companies that lent their wireless communication devices and expertise to the international rescue operations were Maxtech Networks, which makes emergency communication devices, and Radwin, which provides point-to-point broadband wireless solutions.
Maxtech’s technology helped rescuers and others maintain communication with the trapped boys. Radwin’s technology helped establish a wireless network at the scene to help with the coordination of rescue operations, including Navy Seal special forces, rescuers from around the world, and news teams covering the event.
During the rescue operations, Israel’s Navy proposed a solution to Thailand to help free the trapped team. Israel’s Ambassador to Thailand Meir Shlomo presented the Navy’s plan to the Thai governor and the lead diver in charge of the rescue.
Other former Israelis who live in Thailand were also involved in the operation, the Times of Israel reported.
Towards the end of the operation, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk sent engineers from two of his companies to attempt a rescue. The engineers were from space exploration firm SpaceX, which is involved in Israel’s first moon launch, and engineering firm The Boring Company, which develops tunneling systems for transportation projects.
In a controversial move, Musk also visited the cave and brought a mini submarine that was criticized for not being practical for the rescue. Musk left the kid-sized sub there in case it was needed.
comments