physical work, you're asking what is needed. lots of people usually in a cave rescue. the last cave rescue i was part of, i was one of the people ina group was part of, i was one of the people in a group in which someone needed to be rescued. 50 people turned up to be rescued. 50 people turned up to help and that was just one guy needing help in the uk. it seems as if, for many people and certainly for these boys, it was a day trip. is caving a sport or an activity for holiday—makers? how important is fitness and training? principally, it is an adventure sport and there is a lot of training that goes into preparing people. in the uk, if you want at the lowest level of caving leadership qualification, you need a total of 40 qualification, you need a total of a0 days underground as a minimum before you would be rated as being competent. in addition to that, you would have some training and assessment. the qualification i have

got is a minimum of 120 days but nobody i know without qualification has anything less than 200 days. it is not something we do lightly. we absolutely are not putting children's lives at risk. this is a question of perceived risk to the children we take underground and onto britain's mountains and onto the roads, cycling, that we are managing the risks carefully. for the children, it is a massive adventure. what is the one i won when it comes to somebody who is planning to go and enjoy caving? what is the primary advice you would give them? they could not find these boys for ten days, they were missing. you need to leave very clear word about where you have gone, which entrance you went into, you would have the right equipment with you, the right clothing, possibly water and food. although

generally children caving in the uk, you would only go down for a few hours at the time so there is often food at the entrance. it is a question of picking a venue that is good for that age group and level of experience will you tell people where you have gone, getting others to agree that your plan is a good one, make sure you are qualified and experienced for that activity. that is not just experienced for that activity. that is notjust true experienced for that activity. that is not just true for caving experienced for that activity. that is notjust true for caving but canoeing and cycling and mountaineering as well. we will leave it there for now. thank you. chris boa rdman there, leave it there for now. thank you. chris boardman there, the safeguarding officer for the chris boardman there, the safeguarding officerfor the british caving association. the pictures you can see that were taken over the last few days, as preparations were put in place. some of that also was the equipment used to pump some of the equipment used to pump some of the water that has been causing so many problems for this operation. the boys there, clearly those boys are young. the youngest i believe is

11 years old. if you think about it, we have heard how tight some of the chambers are and how narrow everything is. the size of them presumably would help with the manoeuvrability aspect of this rescue. we have another guest now to share their experience. we arejoined by their experience. we are joined by steve whitlock, who was part of the 200a expedition which resulted in six men being trapped in one of the biggest cave networks in mexico city, although he was not one of those trapped. he coordinated the rescue with a british diver, rick stanton, who was one of the first to actually find the children in that flooded cave in northern thailand. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. you have been watching the story. your reaction? it is good news that we are starting to see people come out of the cave. but it

is not over until it is over. you go through a period of seeing success, but the rescue is not over until all of the people or out of eight, including the divers. it is good news that we are starting to see people come through this difficult passages and get out of that cave. i would caution people to be a little bit careful, because we have still gotan bit careful, because we have still got an awful to people that have to come out of that cave, and we're yet to see the remaining neighbours of the team come through. you have been pa rt the team come through. you have been part of a rescue team, as i said earlier. it took place in mexico city. how closely does that event resembled what we're seeing now in thailand? in some ways, it is very similar. we rescued a group of six cave i’s similar. we rescued a group of six cavers from a similar situation. the big difference was it was part of a

contingency plan. with though it was a rescue plan, who were aware that it flooded, we had a data—logger in there for three years, and we knew it would flood to the top. we had a camp set up, we had divers on standby in the uk should that happen. so the difference was we we re happen. so the difference was we were slightly more prepared because were slightly more prepared because we knew that particular cave flooded. there are so many teams from around the world involved in this. are the right... in terms of cave diving, where do you go first? the obvious answer was rick stanton. we knew that nearly 1a years ago, and the situation hasn't really change. there are some really good cave divers around the world, but it is quite a close—knit community. is

there another you can die for a cave dive rescue, probably not. it is an interesting thought. but if you are caving at the level that we were in mexico, there were enough members of my team that understood who do ring, and obviously we arrange that beforehand. we are hearing a lot about the diving plan. what is involved in one of those? obviously you need to know the cave in detail, and recall have done that when he first moved in to find those members of that team. you need to find out how long you were submerged, how complex that cave system is. we have seen complex that cave system is. we have seen a complex that cave system is. we have seen a lot of the news about how tight it was and how difficult it was. that would have been a big part of the plan. can you move people in there? you have got to consider the safety of the rescuer. if you are

moving somebody through an environment like that who is not used to it, then it is as dangerous for the rescuer as for the person being rescued a particularly if that person starts to panic, loses the line or gets everybody disoriented. all of that needs to be considered and you need to train for it. we trained on the far side of the sun. before we dive them through, we trained them in the cave. in water. to make sure that we understood how they reacted before we considered bringing them out using diving. just to let you know quickly, and our viewers, we arejust to let you know quickly, and our viewers, we are just looking at scenes at tham luang, with rescuers with those let helmets walking away from and around the site itself. we also saw a number of ambulances moving. as far as the rescuers, they

have got bags, read such as on as well. some of them have got their torches on. just going back again to what you have said about training children or training people before bringing them through or completing that rescue, what exactly do you look for? how on earth do you begin a crash course in cave diving in an emergency situation? you have to put them in the day will be moving through the cave with. you find a safe piece of water which isn't submerged, not covered by a cave passage above. and you put them under water and you see how they react. essentially what we planned in mexico, we had a guideline laid across the base of the cave which effectively, what we did for the people you rescued, but a lot of weight on them and they crawled. they didn't swing, they crawled and

followed the rope all the way out of the cave. they may have used the same method. the moment you make them neutrally buoyant, so they can float around, they are more difficult to manage. but you make that assessment on the part side. you put them in the equipment, see how they perform in the water, and then they are not diving straight into the unknown. they understand what is going on, they can see they can be looked after, and you reassure them with presence because you cannot talk to them. you let them know it is ok. 0nce you cannot talk to them. you let them know it is ok. once you have their trust, you can bring them out. it is quite difficult. talking about trust, how do you communicate with somebody who is inexperienced, was that dive is under way? you can't. you have just got to be present and have your hand on their arm or their hand, they have got to feel you because they will not be able to see

you, especially in that muddy water. they have to know you are there and they must trust you. to develop that trust is difficult in that short period of time. but a short dive in preparation before they are put into harms way made a big difference for us, andi harms way made a big difference for us, and i can only issue that they followed a similar path. once you have got the person out of the cave, obviously these boys have been in there for nearly a fortnight, there will be some light sensitivity in their eyes. what medical plans are put in place? what did you do in mexico? the human body adapts quickly and actually the biggest shock that the people in our party had when they came out was the level of interest, the world's interest in what had happened to them. it was not a medical thing, what had happened to them. it was nota medicalthing, it what had happened to them. it was not a medical thing, it was a psychological thing to know that they were, in our case, on the news

every day for ten days in the western world. that was a big thing. they were going, what is all the fuss about? this was a plan we had already enacted. i suspect the members of the football team will be thinking the same thing. they will be amazed will be so many people involved, amazed that the military there, amazed that all of those people are around that cave or in the facility of that cave. regarding the facility of that cave. regarding the medical. it isjust a checkup. you just need to make sure that they are fit and healthy. they are young lads, footballers, probably reasonably fit, they probably need a good meal and some good water, rehydration, and good meal and some good water, rehyd ration, and they good meal and some good water, rehydration, and they will be right as rain. psychologically, it will be interesting to see how they cope when they realise how much interest in the world has had in their situation. would somebody who has invested under such conditions have

psychological help in place quick and is it as risible? i don't know. -- is it and is it as risible? i don't know. —— is it advisable? with the age of these youngsters, it is something they will have to look at. they might have problems associating with confined spaces or water. but if it is done in a positive way, if they got out and it hasn't led to any sort of trauma, then actually do a bleak will get over it —— bay will probably get it over quite quickly. most young people are quite resilient, so i will shouldn't think there will be any long—term effects. you mentioned the training that took place and the equipment, how heavy is that equipment? with the boys have been dressed in white suits, with a need that because of the water, or is the water going to be quite warm? i don't know the temperature, but you will find that the average temperature in a cave

and probably the water associated with it is the average temperature of the country you are in. being in thailand, i would of the country you are in. being in thailand, iwould imagine of the country you are in. being in thailand, i would imagine that water would be in the 20s celsius. you can do pretty well without a wet suit in that temperature. the equipment is fairly heavy, but i'm sure they manage that and they managed it in a way to make sure that those youngsters may not have carried the equipment themselves or, if they did, it would be something they could manage. it is really advantageous in that situation that people don't actually swim. if they do swim, they get lost. if they are heavy, you can place them on the floor, the diver knows where they are, the rescue diver can then move around them and they cannot easily move away. that is a real advantage. then you know where those divers are and what they are up to. we have heard mention of this idea of

sedating the boys to calm them down. is that something do have come across in a cave diving rescue? no, i haven't personally. i don't know. i suspect anybody that is sedated in a nyway i suspect anybody that is sedated in anyway needs careful management. 0k, i understand why people might have said that, but obviously that gives you an additional problem because not only have you got to monitor them breathing and all the rest of it, you have got to worry about them medically as well, whether you have done it in the right way. it is not a thingi done it in the right way. it is not a thing i have thought of or seen, but i can understand why people think it might be a good idea. finally, water pumping and drilling has been going on. around the whole site. would that have added a lot of wea kness to site. would that have added a lot of weakness to the mountain range and the cave system? i issue some of the pumping would have taken place. would you be happy to go into a

system like that, knowing it had taken place, or does the weakness at risk? the mountains where those caves are, it is all limestone. it is like swiss cheese. it has been there for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years in the form it is. it is not going to fall down, it will not be affected by drilling or pumping, certainly no more than water affecting the system in the normal sequence water affecting the system in the normal sequence of events through a year. so that wouldn't worry me at all. steve whitlock, it has been fascinating. thank you. thank you. lots of reaction from around the world taking place. as we heard, this is an international story, an international rescue operation. we are hearing from the us, from president donald trump, who will be

visiting the uk next week. he has said, the us is working 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. i must add that other countries are involved in this rescue, including the uk, the us and australia, and the thai people themselves. you are watching bbc news. those pictures you are seeing around the rescue site at the cave entrance. earlier i spoke to our correspondent, nick beake, who is outside the chiang rai hospital, where we believe the boys will have been taken to. we have seen two ambulances raced into the hospital. we do not know who is inside but we know that the

ambulances left the cave complex, which is about an hour away from here, so they have raced along the road to this point. arribas source at the moment for what is happening is the thai navy seals. they have been providing regular updates on their facebook page. they are the people who have been in the cave, taking videos of the boys and posting them. they say that four boys at this stage have been brought to safety from the cave complex. that is the word from them. lots of other reports at the moment, we cannot say for sure whether they are accurate but what we know is that two ambulances are here, and four boys rode to safety according to the elite units spearheading this operation. what are the primary concerns for the health of the children as they are brought to hospital? what sort of plan has been in place? the doctors and nurses here have not been speaking publicly about what they have been planning, but clearly they have been planning, but clearly they have been planning, but clearly they have had some time to prepare for this. they know exactly how many

people they need to treat potentially. ever since the boys we re potentially. ever since the boys were found at the start of last week they have had a doctor with them who has been able to assess their medical condition on an hourly basis, you would imagine. we heard the officials in thailand say that the officials in thailand say that the boys were strong enough and mentally fit to embark on this rescue attempt. clearly a decision was made to go with this break in the weather to try and embark ona break in the weather to try and embark on a successful rescue. in terms of how the individual boys will be treated, we have not got that information, but they know the ages of the boys, the conditions over the past week or so, so you imagine there would be a tailor—made plan for each of these young footballers as hopefully they all emerge to safety, as they are ultimately reunited with their families. we understand that helicopters had been put on standby. that was one of the plans in terms of getting the boys to hospital as soon as

possible. why have they used ambulances? that is probably one for the medical teams who would have been doing dynamic risk assessments, as they call it. we imagine the boys were assessed after the first and hardest pa rt assessed after the first and hardest part of the rescue attempt. that was the stumbling block. the caves are so narrow, the stumbling block. the caves are so narrow, flooded in parts, and they were concerned whether they would be able to bring the boys safely through these narrow passageways and corridors. they were probably assessed after that first point and the decision made that they would continue with the rest of they would continue with the rest of the rescue operation. helicopters are much quicker option but if the decision was made that bringing them here by road was the best option, they have gone with that. we did see a helicopter take—off earlier from the site. not clear who was on that and what sort of role that was playing in the rescue operation. that was dan johnson. playing in the rescue operation. that was danjohnson. what playing in the rescue operation. that was dan johnson. what we playing in the rescue operation. that was danjohnson. what we can see here at tham luang is the local

governor of the province. we are working on getting a translation to find out the very latest regarding this rescue operation. when he first sat down and started speaking, we we re sat down and started speaking, we were able to hear a massive cheer from the press gathered at the press conference. as from the press gathered at the press conference. as soon as we from the press gathered at the press conference. as soon as we know in terms of numbers and the state is of the rescue operation, we will update you. what we can tell you is that 90 divers are currently involved in this operation. 50 foreign divers, and a0 thai divers involved in rescuing the 12 boys and their coach. they have been in that cave system for almost a fortnight. they we re system for almost a fortnight. they were in there from june the 23rd.

the latest information we had was that four of the boys had managed to be rescued from the cave system. we are not sure what condition they we re are not sure what condition they were in when they came out, but we can confirm that part of the medical plan that had been put in place showed that the boys would have been put in ambulances. we saw the ambulances leave the rescue site. we understand they have been taking to the local district hospital in chiang rai, which is about one hour away by car. they did also have the option of using helicopters. there was an ambulance for each boy, a number of helicopters and location as well, but the weather hindered that extraction to the hospital, so they were taken by road. we understand, in terms of choosing which boys to get out of there

first, they took the weakest of the boys. the first boy, he reportedly left the cave at 5a0 local time. the time now is 850. let me put that into local time bst. we got news of the first rescue just after one o'clock british summer time. lots of a nalysts a re o'clock british summer time. lots of analysts are saying that this rescue has taken place a lot faster than anticipated, a lot faster than we had been told. we expected the first of the boys to be brought out of their by 3pm. that is british summertime. here we go. more ambulances moving around the site at tham luang. in terms of the rescue,

the boys would have had to travel, underwater diving, for about one kilometre. it is not all under water, but the route is treacherous and at times they would have to remove some of that kate and we are talking about the divers themselves, because the boys would have been patched to expect divers by a breeding line. —— would have been attached. they did not panic, because that was the biggest danger in bringing the boys out alive, but they would have to make sure that they would have to make sure that the airtanks they would have to make sure that the air tanks were passed through the air tanks were passed through the narrow passages carefully. the boys would have been brought through, the air tanks reattached, and the rescue would have continued. there would have been a couple of stops along the way, where they would have been checked over before continuing towards the entrance to the cave itself. some of these

statistics, it would have taken around six hours. they are going in with lots of equipment, six hours for the rescue team to get in, walking, swimming and diving. the estimation is it would take about five hours to get the boys out, so the confirmation, if you are joining us on the confirmation, if you are joining us on bbc news, is that four of the 12 boys that have been trapped in the cave system in tham luang cave in north and thailand have been brought out. —— northern thailand. i am optimistic. i will say safely brought out. they have been taken to hospital. rescue plans were put in place to get the children straight to hospital. in terms of logistics and the rescue team, an incredible 90 divers are part of the rescue

team. remember, you need the divers themselves, you need support divers as well. 50 foreign divers or involves from around the world. president trump has tweeted to say that the us are supporting events taking place. the rescue operation in thailand. a0 thai local divers are involved but in terms of moving onto the next stage of the rescue, the rescue workers, we understand, will need up to ten hours to prepare for the next stage of this operation. so there could be a positive events. further news coming out. —— a pause in events. we understand that for one exit of boys

to the next, a ten hour gap is needed before the rescue team can go backin needed before the rescue team can go back in and prepare for bringing out the next group of boys. you're watching bbc news. stay with us. more coming up. let's find out how the weather is looking. hello, our forecast is hot again today foremost. temperatures have peaked above 30 celsius, it is humid, the further south you are. many places are seeing spells of hot sunshine. this was the view earlier in cornwall, gorgeous blue skies, but more cloud around in scotland, northern ireland and parts of northern england. you might think, i would love to get some rain out of that, but there is hardly any, just like showers here and there. those are the temperatures for the rest of the afternoon. scotland cooler than yesterday and else where temperatures are well into the 20s.

the cloud in the north of scotland will filter down through the north—east of england overnight, and it may produce drizzle. variable cloud, clear spells elsewhere, cooler for scotland and northern ireland compared with last night. just as warm for england and wales and that is difficult for sleeping after the heat of the day. high pressure with us on monday but the weather front affecting scotland moves a little further south. the cloud may hang around parts of scotla nd cloud may hang around parts of scotland and the north—east of england during the day, but only a little bit of drizzle if anything. some broken cloud elsewhere with sunny spells. it is gradually becoming cooler for the sunny spells. it is gradually becoming coolerfor the north, and you can see the cooler colours edging south. that is not the case for the south of england and wales. much cooler along the north sea coast. that will continue and choose the with the breeze from the sea.

there will be cloud at wimbledon on monday but there will also be warm and hot spells of sunshine, particularly in the afternoon. the temperature may not be as high as it has been in the weekend, but still nearly 30 degrees. high pressure in control across a large part of europe, the british isles very much within that. there is a weather front that may bring rain at times for scotland and the west of northern ireland and choose deanne wednesday but the weather this week is dominated by the fact it is briefly cooler. just a couple of days. sunshine with high pressure and warming up in the south later in the week, and by the end of the week, southern areas will be near 30 celsius once again. if you want cooler weather, make the most of it, it will not last long, and if you wa nt it will not last long, and if you want rain, there is barely any in the forecast for and get another week. that is the latest weather. this is bbc news. the top stories.

officials in thailand say at least four boys have been rescued from a flooded cave system — as ambulances are seen arriving , leaving the site. the boys and their football coach have been trapped in the complex cave system for almost a fortnight and were found by rescue divers earlier this week. divers have taken the boys through a difficult part of the route. it is understood 90 have been involved in the operation.