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  • Aquanaut

  • A Life Beneath The Surface – The Inside Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
  • By: Rick Stanton
  • Narrated by: Don Gilet, Rick Stanton
  • Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (168 ratings)
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Aquanaut cover art

Aquanaut

By: Rick Stanton
Narrated by: Don Gilet, Rick Stanton
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE ENTHRALLING INSIDE STORY OF THE THAI CAVE RESCUE

'They were utterly alone inside the mountain, isolated from the rest of the world. They might as well have been on another planet . . .'

In July 2018, twelve boys and their football coach disappeared into Tham Luang Cave in Thailand.

Trapped miles beneath the surface, not even the Thai Navy SEALs had the skills to bring them to safety. With the floodwater rising rapidly, time was running out . . .

Any hope of survival rested on Rick Stanton, a retired Midlands firefighter with a living room full of homemade cave-diving equipment. As unlikely as it seemed, to those in the know, Rick and his partner, John Volanthen, were regarded as the A-team for exactly this kind of mission.

The Thai Cave Rescue was the apex of a lifelong obsession, requiring every ounce of skill and ingenuity accumulated by Rick through a near forty-year pursuit of the unknown.

While the world held its breath, Rick, John and their assembled team raced against time in the face of near impossible odds. There was simply no precedent for what they were attempting to do . . .

In Aquanaut Rick reveals the real story of the cave rescue for the first time. And of a life lived without compromise in which any mistake could have been his last. It's an edge-of-your-seat story of courage and conviction that will take you deep into the most remote and unforgiving places on the planet, told with humour, unflinching honesty, and a relentless drive for adventure.

©2021 Rick Stanton (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The British divers are all heroes." (Clive Cussler)

"A case study in courage." (Ron Howard, Oscar-winning director of Apollo 13)

"The Thai cave rescue was phenomenally dangerous, and the work of true heroes." (inews

What listeners say about Aquanaut

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Absolute legend

Understated cave diver with an extreme ability to forsee problems and identify valid solutions, this is straight out of the old biggles or famous five stories, but it is TRUE.

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Enthralling

An enlightening, captivating and moving account of a good friends bravery in a rescue like no other . I am humbled., and yet Rick remains Rick . ( and domestic god)

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Wow - Brilliant, Honest & Personal

I’m an caver, a member of British cave rescue and an ex-cave diver. None of this is exaggerated. In our world Rick is a legend and this brilliantly describes his motivation and how he thinks. This is by far the best book I’ve read/listened to on this subject. My wife, who is none of the above, was also fascinated and enjoyed it immensely (and it gave her a new insight into what made us tick).
It’s really two books in one. Rick’s own cave diving life story and a personal description of the Thai Cave Rescue. The two could not exist without each other, but I’m not sure that the switching back and forward between the two works for me. (My cave rescue friends say this book is best read with “Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives by John Volanthen”, Rick’s partner in this rescue. It compliments this book well.)

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So very inspiring !!!

Loved hearing about the lived in experience behind this gripping world news event! it's a must read!!!

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    5 out of 5 stars

bloody gripping

what a fantastic gripping telling and brillianty intertwined with how he became to be the man h we is.

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A fantastic book overall.

The end was a bit boring but I really really loved everything thing else. FANTASTIC BOOK!!!

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An interesting listen

An amazing insight into an obscure sport that led to one of the worlds greatest rescues. I purchased this book based upon the unknown world of cave diving and a glimpse of what it was all about, this book pulls back the curtain on this mysterious sport and the characters from enjoy it.

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Keeps you on the edge. Waiting for the next part to begin

I was unsure with which book to get in regards the rescue. But very glad I chose this one. Rick tells it in his words but also talks about himself and how he becomes what he is today. The book flicks from Thailand rescue to parts of ricks life and other cave rescues he has been part of. So yes I thought a very good book.

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Awesomely thought provoking and inspiring

A fantastic account of the rescue with all the details the films and documentaries where lacking from a fellow divers point.
For me his own personal bits nestled into the primary really made it, some gave real feelings of butterflies while others talked of strong bonds with fellow like minded friends. Brilliant

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I couldn't stop listening

I have been reading a lot of mountaineering books the past 2 years and decided to go for something different. I'm so glad I did! I had watched a documentary on the Thai cave rescue and found it interesting, but this book was so much more!! Rick sounds like quite a character! I really liked that the chapters alternated between the rescue and Ricks life; it gave the book structure and also brought me along the journey he took that made him one of the few people in the world skilled enough to do what he and his friends did. Loved it.

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