'I remember the pressure of the Thai cave rescue'

Mike Clayton and his wife Emma helped co-ordinate the rescue effort

Mike Clayton had spent his childhood outdoors caving and exploring nature, it was a hobby that led him to be called in to be part of the Thai cave rescue mission.

The 56-year-old, from Hampton Loade, near Bridgnorth, flew to the Chiang Rai province of Thailand to help save 12 boys who became trapped in a flooded cave in 2018.

"You never join a cave rescue team to be involved in an absolute world story," he said.

Mr Clayton described getting the call to help the rescue effort as both an honour and an obligation.

"I knew Thailand and I knew the cave.

"I also knew diving and the equipment as someone who swims in open water, so yes I felt a sense of obligation to help."

He had joined the rescue as a surface controller, providing support above ground and ensuring order was maintained.

Mr Clayton is the chair of Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation - a group of volunteers across the West Midlands who aid cave and land rescues.

'A whirlwind'

The Wild Boars football team, aged 11 to 16, became trapped 2.5 miles (4km) inside the Tham Luang caves on 23 June 2018 after heavy rainfall.

"During the actual event, you're just concentrating on achieving it. You don't really think of the pressure," he told the BBC.

"It was pretty chaotic, with thousands of people on site wanting to all help and save them."

Although the rescue was almost seven years ago, the intensity of the mission remains.

"It is something I'll never forget, feeling that pressure.

"We didn't have permission from the Thai government to actually start attempting a diving rescue, because they were nervous about the chances of survival for the boys."

With the risk of monsoon rains beginning at any moment - time was not on their side.

From the Thai King to American Air force crew, Mr Clayton said it almost felt like the whole world had turned out to help.

"It was a whirlwind and was probably the most stressful two weeks of my life.

"But when I look on back on it I'm immensely proud that I was able to be involved with it."