Thailand cave rescue: Elon Musk’s sub arrives fearing BACK UP plan needed

Rescuers are on their third day of their mission with hopes rising that all 12 boys and their coach will be safely extracted – but billionaire tech entrepreneur SpaceX boss Mr Musk said his pioneering design is ready to help if needed.

Mr Musk, who arrived with the equipment last night, tweeted: “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.”

Earlier, he shared photos and videos of the rescue pod, which he described as a “kid-sized submarine”, including engineers testing the device in a pool in Los Angeles and manoeuvring it through a simulated narrow passageway underwater.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Musk shared photos and videos of the rescue pod on Twitter, including footage of engineers testing the device in a pool in Los Angeles and manoeuvring the metallic pod through a simulated narrow passageway underwater.

Musk said the team is working on a second, shorter version.

The youth soccer team plus their 25-year-old teacher have trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex for more than two weeks after it flooded as a result of heavy monsoon rains and became sealed off.

All the boys rescued so far are reported to be in good health.

Mr Musk and his team have been in touch with officials in Thailand, a SpaceX spokesperson confirmed, and Musk tweeted Sunday that the sub’s design is based on feedback from dive teams assisting with the rescue operation.

The device was built using a tube for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

Mr Musk said the sub’s aluminium shell has four ports on the front and rear to connect to oxygen tanks and weighs about 90 pounds.

He tweeted: “Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust.”

With modifications, it could also work as an escape pod in space, he added.

The rescue operation is being conducted by Thai navy SEALs and a team of foreign divers, while an international team of experts, including a US military team, is providing assistance.