Thai Cave Rescue: Elon Musk's invention rejected by rescuers

Elon Musk’s “mini-sub” sent to help save the Wild Boars soccer team trapped in a flooded Thai cave was politely rejected by rescue coordinators.

The US tech billionaire flew to Thailand to present the authorities with his invention, which Musk said was “made from rocket parts”.

However the device was deemed “not practical” for the mission to retrieve the 12 boys and their soccer coach from the cave.

https://twitter.com/JeromeTaylor/status/1016615971258159107

Narongsak Osatanakorn, head of the joint command centre coordinating the rescue, told the BBC: "Although his technology is good and sophisticated it’s not practical for this mission”.

All 12 members of the team and their coach were escorted from the cave with the help of pairs of divers, navigating underwater caverns and muddy terrain – without the Tesla and Space X founder’s unique piece of hardware.

Musk has frequently commentated on social media about his willingness to help rescue the boys.

He commissioned the creation of a submarine device that he hoped would carry the boys, some of whom could not swim, through the submerged sections of the cave.

Musk even accompanied a team of his companies’ engineers to Thailand, where he visited the Tham Luang cave.

Despite going unused, Musk said in a tweet the submarine, named Wild Boar, will remain in Thailand “in case it may be useful in the future.”