Divers testing the mini-submarine built by Elon Musk’s engineers. Credit: Elon Musk, via Reuters

Founder of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk has been the latest focus of controversy following the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a Thai cave. As the world watched experts in an 18-day struggle to rescue the group, the tech billionaire was called on in a tweet for a ‘back-up plan’, involving a child-size submarine. While authorities successfully completed the rescue without his assistance, many are calling his efforts a “publicity stunt”.

British diver and Thai resident, Vern Unsworth spoke in an interview to CNN, dismissing the founders technology: “He can stick his submarine where it hurts.” The diver who regularly visits the Tham Luang caves, believes it would not have been suitable for such a mission. “The submarine, I believe, was about five foot six long, rigid, so it wouldn’t have gone round corners or round any obstacles,” said Unsworth. “It wouldn’t have made the first 50 meters into the cave.”

In response to Unsworth interview, Musk bit back, suggesting that that Unsworth, a British national living in a country infamous for sex tourism, is a pedophile. The tweets appear to have since been deleted.

“Never saw this British expat guy who lives in Thailand (sus) at any point when we were in the caves. 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.”

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2018
“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

“Bet ya a signed dollar it’s true”

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2018

It is not the first time that the Tesla name was involved in a humanitarian mission. Last year, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and demolished the country’s electricity grid, with Musk promising to rebuild the power hub. Though the company sent thousands of battery packs, Puerto Rico still does not have reliable electricity. Now, Elon Musk wants to help restore Flint’s water.

As for the unused mini submarine, it will stay in Thailand “in case it may be useful in the future.”