Elon Musk tears into British cave diving expert who helped rescue Thai boys, calls him ‘pedo guy’

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tore into the British cave diving expert who helped rescue 12 boys from a Thai cave earlier this month, calling him a “pedo guy” in a tweet.

Musk came under fire for his efforts to aid the rescue by sending a child-size submarine into the Tham Luang cave system where the boys had been trapped after it flooded suddenly.

Vern Unsworth dismissed Musk’s submarine was “a PR stunt” in an interview with CNN.{mosads}

“He had no conception of what the cave passage was like,” Unsworth told CNN. “The submarine, I believe, was about 5-foot-6 long, rigid, so it wouldn’t have gone round corners or round any obstacles.”

Unsworth, who lives in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, said Musk was “asked to leave” the cave “very quickly,” and that he “can stick his submarine where it hurts.”

Several key figures involved in the rescue said that Unsworth was integral to the success of the operation.

The chief of the rescue operation also said that Musk’s submarine was “not practical” for the mission.

In a series of tweets responding to a New York Times opinion writer who encouraged Musk to see the experience “as a lesson,” Musk defended his submarine and vowed to share video of the project’s success. 

Water level was actually very low & still (not flowing) — you could literally have swum to Cave 5 with no gear, which is obv how the kids got in. If not true, then I challenge this dude to show final rescue video. Huge credit to pump & generator team. Unsung heroes here.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2018

“Never saw this British expat guy who lives in Thailand (sus) at any point when we were in the caves” he wrote. “Only people in sight were the Thai navy/army guys, who were great. Thai navy seals escorted us in — total opposite of wanting us to leave.”

“I challenge this dude to show final rescue video,” he continued. “Huge credit to pump & generator team. Unsung heroes here.”

Musk’s final tweet in the thread referred to Unsworth as “pedo guy.”

“You know what, don’t bother showing the video,” Musk wrote. “We will make one of the mini-sub/pod going all the way to Cave 5 no problemo. Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it.”

You know what, don’t bother showing the video. We will make one of the mini-sub/pod going all the way to Cave 5 no problemo. Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2018