Thai cave rescuer dies from blood infection contracted while saving football team

[coti]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/thailand-cave-rescue-navy-seal-death-tham-luang-beiret-bureerak-a9261726.html

Beiret Bureerak hailed a ‘hero’ for his role in mission closely watched across the world

A navy seal who assisted in the daring rescue of 12 young boys from a flooded cave network in Thailand has died from a blood infection contracted during the operation.

Hailing Beiret Bureerak for his heroic role in the weeks-long rescue effort that captured global attention, the Royal Thai Navy confirmed on Friday that he had died after battling infection for 17 months.

The petty officer had reportedly been receiving treatment under close medical supervision since the mission, but his condition had worsened.

Incredibly sad. That's two of the divers who died as a result. 100% heroes, every single one, who pulled off a miracle.

[samnsara]

1. oh my gosh!! so sad....

[CatMor]

2. So very sad ... what a hero.

[Beringia]

3. How do you get a blood infection while diving?

[Tipperary]

4. No idea.

I was a diver for years. I never heard that as a danger, but no doubt this guy was doing much more advanced diving than I ever did.

[coti]

6. Maybe water in the lungs? nt

[cwydro]

7. Water in the lungs generally means drowning, so that seems unlikely.

I’ve not read anything about this. How sad.

I was a recreational diver back in my younger days; the worst thing that happened to me was staying deep too long...no bad effects, but it could have been very dangerous.

I was young and taking risks. (Stupid)

[littlemissmartypants]

33. Aspiration of fluid into the airway and the lungs is a common occurrence

and is often the culprit of infections, especially aspiration pneumonia. I worked for more than 30 years with patients with chronic and acute infections that were acquired by just that event, aspiration. It is a frequently occurring and often deadly adverse respiratory event which can be triggered by even the smallest amount of liquid in the lungs. Reverse aspiration from gastroespphageal reflux can be the cause of respiratory tract infections without introduction of any liquid except for that coming from aspiration of stomach contents as a result of reflux.

[Ilsa]

8. Any scrape is an opportunity for a pathogen to

enter the body. Perhaps even water containing a pathogen going up the nose.

[Adsos Letter]

10. Great minds, etc.

[Beringia]

11. Maybe so

I tend to think of a dog bite as dangerous, not a scrape.

[Ilsa]

14. Anything minute could be an opportunity

for an infection to occur, sepsis to develop.

A friend contracted MRSA on a small scratch on her leg from her dog because her husband was interning at a general hospital.

[Beringia]

15. What do you mean "because her husband was interning"

how does that contribute to her getting an infection?

[Ilsa]

21. The MRSA was a live contaminant at the hospital.

Her infection was iatrogenic: caused by husband's exposure to MRSA at the hospital. The husband was the vector, not the dog who scratched her.

After he visited the Infection Control nurse for advice, they established a routine at home whereby he changes and takes a disinfecting shower (Hibiclens, for as long as he worked on that unit) when he gets home. His apparel goes into a special hamper for his clothes to be washed at very high temps.

I don't think the infection control nurse swabbed him all over, but only because the wife had not been a hospital patient. I've heard of surgeons getting their mouths, fingernails, anuses, genitalia, etc swabbed if they have several patients with the same post-op infection.

[Beringia]

22. Thanks

[coti]

12. Yeah, this was probably it. nt

[cwydro]

13. Most masks cover the nose.

But yeah on the scrape.

[Ilsa]

16. Eyes, maybe? I wonder if a tiny amount of water in the mask could

enable a pathogen to enter through mucous membranes in the eye?

[cwydro]

18. No doubt.

I had some scary experiences diving, but nothing like that.

[Rebl2]

36. That was my

thought-through the nose, eyes, mouth etc.

[Adsos Letter]

9. Could it be from a scrape against the rock of the cave?

Leaving an open spot in the skin for an infection to lodge?

Not a medical guy, and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[moondust]

29. That's my guess.

[Hekate]

17. Scrapes and cuts from rock and coral would do it. Polluted water. How very, very sad. nt

[cstanleytech]

37. Any number of ways from a small cut or scrap outside the body

to contaminated water entering via a small sore or cut in the mouth.

[dewsgirl]

5. How awful.😔

[Yeehah]

19. Schools should be named after people like this and statues built

rather than asshole politicians.

[Duppers]

32. +100

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. 💔

[Raine]

23. This is so sad

💔 a true hero..

[still_one]

24. Was this where Elon Musk slurred one of the rescuers?

[SMC22307]

25. Yes. British diver, if I'm not mistaken. (n/t)

[Dem2theMax]

26. Absolutely heartbreaking news.

[meow2u3]

27. There's a special place in heaven for Beiret Bureerak

RIP and may you enjoy eternity happy and with your god.

[SunSeeker]

28. So sad. Yes, I've heard caves can have dangerous bacteria/fungus.

Amazing that all the boys are fine.

[SCVDem]

30. At the very least,

He deserves his country's highest honor and a public remembrance.

Semper Fi!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

31. A couple of images from the rescue drama...

From: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/thailand-cave-rescue-map-graphic-shows-extraordinary-route-to-boys-trapped-in-tham-luang-a3882286.html

This death is very sad. I followed this rescue from beginning to end and we rarely see heroism like that of these cave divers and of the untiring team that supported them.

KY.........

[smirkymonkey]

34. So sad. He was such a hero.

[defacto7]

35. A family member of mine just barely survived

a blood infection that came out of nowhere. We still don't know how she got it. It attacked nerves, muscles and damaged her heart permanently. She's been in therapy and now has a pacemaker. Before this she was in exceptional health.
Those bacterial blood infections are hard to understand.