Four men have been freed from a flooded cave in northern Laos after a gruelling 24-hour rescue operation involving British specialists. The men, all local guides, were trapped when rising waters blocked their exit from the Tham Nam cave in Luang Prabang province.
Rescuers worked through the night to pump water from the cave system and navigate narrow, submerged passages. The British Cave Rescue Council, whose experts gained global acclaim for the 2018 Thai cave rescue, deployed a four-person team. They used advanced diving equipment and sonar mapping to locate the trapped men about two kilometres inside the cave.
“This was a race against time,” said Sarah Booth, a spokesperson for the British team. “The water level was rising rapidly. But our teams are trained for exactly this kind of situation.”
The men were found huddled on a small ledge, shivering but unharmed. They had been trapped for nearly 40 hours without food or light. Local authorities had initially attempted a rescue but called for international help when conditions worsened.
“We owe our lives to them,” said Boua, one of the rescued men, as he was wrapped in a blanket. “I never thought I would see my family again.”
The operation continues as two other guides remain missing deeper in the cave system. British teams, supported by Laotian military and US engineers, have set up a command post at the cave entrance. They are pumping water to lower the level and preparing for another dive.
“The clock is ticking,” said Booth. “But we have the equipment and the will to get them out.”
This rescue effort mirrors the 2018 Thai cave operation that saved 12 boys and their football coach. But the Tham Nam cave system is less explored, and mapping is incomplete. Rescuers are relying on local knowledge and cutting-edge tech.
The local community has rallied around the rescue. Villagers have been bringing food and water to the rescue camp. A temporary hospital has been set up nearby to treat the rescued men and prepare for further extractions.
“This is not just about saving lives,” said Somchai, a Luang Prabang official. “It’s about showing that in the face of nature’s fury, humanity comes together.”
The British government has offered full support. Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised the rescue teams for their “extraordinary bravery and skill.”
The remaining missing men are believed to be in a chamber further along the cave system, but access is blocked by a narrow, flooded tunnel. Rescuers are considering drilling an alternative shaft.
For the families waiting outside the cave, every minute feels like an hour. But the successful rescue of the first four men has given them hope. “I know they will bring my son back,” said Mee, the mother of one of the missing men. “I have to believe that.”
