Vital equipment leaves Heathrow for Thai cave rescue

A dash to the airport ensured that vital equipment belonging to a mountain rescue team in Derbyshire has been flown out to Thailand - to help rescue 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped in a flooded cave for four days.

The equipment was passed from Buxton Mountain Rescue Team to Derbyshire Armed Response Unit - before the Roads Policing Unit made the journey from Ripley to Heathrow in an hour and a half - in time to get the kit on the 9pm flight out to Thailand.

It included rescue and radio equipment.

The boys, aged 11-16, have been missing since their football coach took them to the cave complex on Saturday after a practice match.

Divers have been seeking a way forward through the chambers of the cave complex, but have been forced to suspend their search several times.

The search has been seriously hampered by muddy water which has filled some cave chambers to the ceiling.

The authorities have also been seeking alternative ways in, using helicopters and search parties on foot to find holes that might exist in the ceilings of other parts of the cave.