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AN EXPERIENCED DIVER who travelled from Clare to Thailand to help rescue 12 boys and their football coach has spoken out about the successful mission to free the children.
Jim Warny, who is originally from Belgium but lives in Clare, travelled to south-east Asia to help with the rescue effort.
Warny travelled to Thailand last Saturday following a request from the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC).
Jim was one of several cave divers requested by the BCRC to assist the ongoing rescue operation there. Warny said he was glad to see that the mission was a total success.
In a Facebook post, Warny said: “It was an honour to been given the opportunity to join the team to do this.”
Warny – who works at Shannon based Lufthansa Technik – said: “This rescue was an amazing collaborative journey involved many organisations and people from all over the world.”
He said: “As all of you I’m very happy the boys are safe.”
Warny’s nine-year old son never had any doubt that his Dad would be okay during the high risk rescue. That is according to Warny’s former wife, Kasia Kowalska and mother of their son, Ciaran.
The Ennis based Belgian caving expert is due to fly into Shannon airport this morning following his heroics in participating in the team that rescued the boys and their coach from the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Thailand.
The eyes of the world were on the successful rescue mission and Kowalska said yesterday: “It is wonderful what Jim did and it is wonderful that all of the boys’ lives were saved.”
Kowalska said: “Ciaran was quite confident that his Dad would be okay. He trusts his Dad and he was saying ‘everything is going to be fine’. He is very proud of what his Dad has done.”
She said: “Jim is very, very experienced and very good at what he does. He is very confident in his own ability. He was saying ‘I know what I am doing’ and he explained everything.
“There is always the fear that something might go wrong. Jim was risking his life and you are always worried so we are relieved that everything worked out fine. As long as he is fine.”
She said: “Jim is very, very brave and I’m sure he is absolutely exhausted. We are very proud of what he has done in helping to save the boys and the coach. Without the team’s work, getting the boys out would have been really impossible.”
Kowalska said that Jim texted on a regular basis to let Ciaran know that he was okay.
She said that Jim “is very humble and will be surprised with all of the attention”.
In his Facebook post, Warny also remembered the ultimate sacrifice made by Petty Officer First Class Saman Gunan who lost his life in the rescue mission. He said that his condolences go out to the family of Saman Gunan.
Chairman of Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO), Duncan Foster yesterday congratulated Jim and the international cave-diving community on their integral role in the operation.
He said: “I am full of admiration for the heroic achievements of all involved in the rescue of the 12 boys and their coach. In particular, we are very proud of the contribution of one of our own team members, Jim Warny, who has been a member of ICRO since 2011.”
He added: “Since that time, Jim has provided us with the benefit of his considerable cave-diving experience in his role as ICRO’s diving officer. Jim’s methodical approach and his discipline in managing the risks associated with cave diving, have gained him the respect of his peers.”
He explained: “This is why he was called upon by his British cave-diving colleagues to assist in what has been an extremely challenging rescue.”
ICRO is affiliated to the BCRC, which is the coordinating body for volunteer underground rescue in the UK and Ireland. It has described the operation as ‘one of the most incredible cave rescues ever’ with a ‘tense but joyful’ outcome.
The BCRC stated: “It has been both gratifying and humbling how the cave-rescue world, cave divers and the wider caving world have come together during the past fortnight to help the Thai people and others from many nationalities pull off what many believed to be an impossible task.”
The 12 boys and their coach lost an average of 2kg during their 17-day ordeal but were generally in good condition and showed no signs of stress, a senior Thai health official has said.
Following their successful exit from the cave they were taken by helicopter to a hospital about 70km away and will remain in quarantine for the time being.
With a bit of luck. Hardly surprising given his abysmal track record. Even if a few of these chancers lose their seat it’ll have been a good election. Onwards and upwards.
@Marvin Dollery: You’re putting a brave face on it, but you must be bitterly disappointed that there’s no great far-right wave.
The other night you were claiming to represent the views of the Irish people and calling me every name under the sun for being moderate. All I can say is LOL.
@Brendan O’Brien: hey brenny… what time this ‘green wave’ you were banging on about due to start?????
@Frank Mc Carthy: Of course you are lying as usual. If you dispute this, show evidence, like I have shown evidence that ‘Kevvy kerrr’ and ‘Frank Mc Carthy’ are the same person.
@Brendan O’Brien: Hey Brennie boy, Greens and democrats lost. BIGLY. Have you ever been right? PS, your ma is still dead. Bye now xx
@Brendan O’Brien: Nope, I didn’t say there’d be any “far-right wave” at any stage. You assumed as usual, and tried desperately to put a disgusting twist on my points. The only LOL here is for you – you were quite literally made a clown of and hundreds agreed. Still sore from it hence the petty follow-ups.
@Brendan O’Brien: Imagine actually being smug because the uni party is remaining in power, to do more damage. You are so tragically pathetic. I feel sorry for you.
@Marvin Dollery: Still with the brave face, but it’s cold and lonely out there on the far-right edge.
And still not accepting that votes are what matter: not ‘likes’ on this website.
Four more years for you and your kind (of which there aren’t many, luckily) to wallow in bile and embitterment. That should be amusing.
@Brendan O’Brien: So petty. So sour.
@Brendan O’Brien: Give it a rest will you Brendan. You don’t need to repeat the same crap in every article about the election. Not one candidate has been elected. Also there was never going to be a government led by an anti immigration party. If you actually think there was then you’re the only one. The trolls are playing you and you’re biting and playing exactly how they want you too
@FlipBip: The ‘uni party’ isn’t much good but it’s better than the people you support, so yes, I shall allow myself a little smugness.
@Ger Whelan: Your opinion has been noted and filed in the appropriate place. I’ll say what I want when I want, and if you don’t like it that’s too bad.
@Brendan O’Brien: ah you need to get a life lad. It’s a fairly sad life to be chasing people from article to article saying the same false information. You’ve no idea how many seats the anti immigration candidates may or may not win.
@Ger Whelan: Read my last comment again.
@Brendan O’Brien: Go ahead, enjoy yourself. Damn everyone else. Damn this country, it’s people, it’s culture and it’s future. As long as Brendan is happy and can get one up on strangers online, that’s all that matters. You are the personification of the selfish and entitled baby boomer and this world will be a better place when you are all gone. It’s a pity, but unsurprising, that you’re intent on thrashing the place on your way out though. But don’t worry, my generation and the next, will fix things. We’ll do what you lot are too weak and spineless to do.
@FlipBip: 100% well said.
@FlipBip: You do realise that we had a democratic election yesterday? Whatever you may be, you are certainly not the voice of your generation, so stop trying to claim a role that nobody has appointed you to.
And if you really want to fix things, getting involved in action on the climate/biodiversity crisis would be a good place to start.
@Brendan O’Brien: HAHAHAHAHAHA
@Brendan O’Brien: Ah yes the climate. Another mess you’ve left for us. Cheers for that. I’ll plant some flowers for the bees, shall I? Go f yourself, you delusional old wreetard.
@FlipBip: Showing your true nature here. Do you really want to do that? It’s pretty ugly.
Check this out to see the true voices of what is probably your generation. Quit the echo chambers for a while: there’s a whole world out there.
@Brendan O’Brien: €1.25
@Brendan O’Brien: Well Brendan by your logic it would seem the Irish people have no interest In climate action or biodiversity. Our people look to be telling the green party to F off big time and they are re-electing FG and FF to govern. 2 of the lowest scorers for climate action in their election manifesto according to friends of the earth. So clearly climate change isn’t high on our priorities list.
A beautiful day seeing the greenies LOSING 75% of their seats….the pontificating condescending arrogance that more TAXES on the working man would change the world has been well & truly exposed for the nonsense it is
@Frank Mc Carthy: 100%!
@Frank Mc Carthy: A glimmer of hope in these cruel times. Nobody with a conscience could vote any of them back in. It’ll send a nice message to the next Government as to where the publics anger lays.
@Frank Mc Carthy: c’mon now, a small bit of empathy & sympathy for all the brendan o briens accounts….. coming so soon after the overwhelming victory for the republican party in US, this’ll be very hard for those government shills
@Frank Mc Carthy: you think the green agenda/carbon taxes are going to disappear with the Greens? Not a chance. New taxes tend to be permanent.
@Dermot Blaine: never said that….I DONT want my tax euros going on unused bicycle lanes & acting the ‘big man’ at those stupid COP ‘jollys’
@Kevvy kerrr: A quick reminder that ‘Kevvy kerrr’ and ‘Frank Mc Carthy’ are the same person: see thread started by Gerry Kelly here.
https://www.thejournal.ie/world-reaches-300-bn-climate-finance-deal-at-cop29-6551764-Nov2024/
@Brendan O’Brien: sure brenny…deflection is the answer, lol. Which is more painful…. the greenies 75% wipeout today or the overwhelming victory for republicans in the US. Bit if advice…don’t ever go boylesports or paddy powers
@Frank Mc Carthy: So where is the evidence that I ever said anything about a ‘green wave’? (Hint: nowhere, because I didn’t.)
@Brendan O’Brien: Tut tut little man.
@Frank Mc Carthy: Imagine retiring at 52 ( apparently ) and spending your days swapping between multiple accounts, talking to yourself and attacking genuine posters in a comments section. This comments section is your life.. it fills your days.. fulfils your inner Walter Mitty and gives you a platform to anonymously show your most odious persona. You’re a very troubled individual.
@Brian: c’mon brenny, you can do better than this juvenile account…..use the chutes or ‘kevin kerrr’ ones…they’re more fun to laugh at
@Frank Mc Carthy: neither of which are going to change anytime soon. Local councils introduce cycle lanes, the Greens don’t control any councils.
@Frank Mc Carthy: There is a God after all!
@Dermot Blaine: Elected Councillors don’t control the Councils either.
Council management do.
And they are not answerable to our representatives on the Councils.
Local democracy is a sham in this country.
So no change there then. In the last GE, neither Donnelly or Harris got enough votes to cross the line, but after the eleventh count they were deemed elected anyway. Both of them were handed ministerial positions and there’s Harris sitting in the big chair at the top of the table – an absolute joke.
@Ann Reddin: Do you not understand how our electoral system works? Voted are counted until all seats are filled by candidates reaching the quota. That’s why it can take so many counts. They were elected by reaching the quota after 11 counts, not “deemed elected” arbitrarily.
@Ann Reddin: FG ran a campaign to spilt the vote in Harris constituency last time, that’s why his vote was so low. They didn’t do it this time and he’s topped the poll, most likely. That’s how our system works.
@Ann Reddin: maybe a quick course in proportional representation??
Put he didn’t run in Limerick or Clare. He would have got zero votes. A disgrace of a minister allowing the UHL crisis to continue
@Maniac 2000: TRUE…… well he simply couldn’t/ wouldn’t have run. R.I.P. Aoife Johnson
@Frank Mc Carthy: I know he couldn’t but….
Good riddance!
If any positive is to come from this election, its the hope that this f@@l loses his seat.
@Andrew Kenny: here here
Wallace and Daly have failed in their bids to get reelected. Thank you, voters. Two odious people.
@honey badger: Thank God.
Paying the price for the Double cross on his previous voters and going to fianna Fail
@Kevin O Brien: You’re right. She should have stuck with the SD’s and kept giving solutions from the sidelines instead of ever being in government.
@Kevin O Brien: Exactly
How a man so arrogant and incompetent could be re-elected would be a kick in the face for any of us on hospital waiting lists. Llike most of his party buddies ..a horrible creature.
Bye bye Cabbage Heads, a lot of sore losers about today. Taxing the people doesn’t help the planet! Educating people does!
These green ideas could have been brought in gradually and not foisted on us in one fell swoop!
My heart bleeds for you! Cycle ofg into the sunset with your tails between your legs!!?
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: As much as I dislike Donnelly, he’s not losing out at all, he’ll get his pension etc and he’ll walk into the board of a private company earning a massive salary, while your here sitting in the internet like a 5 year old say ” cabbage head”.
One is wishing and hoping he loses his seat along with O’Gorman cheers!!
Give whoever picked that photo a raise and the rest of the week off.
Could go back to his engineering background. He’s a degree from a prestigious US university. BAM always looking for suitable applicants
This was predicted, he always struggles plus he doesn’t hold constituency clinics
Greatest lampooner in the Dail
. KARMA.
He deserves nothing. Get him out immediately.
I hope you get pummeled Donnelly. It’s all you deserve
Literal soyboy meme
@FlipBip: Drowning your sorrows today?
Cheeri Fxckin O
S
@Phillip Smyth: poofer
Thank god hes gone
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