Rescuer in Thai children saga considering legal action against Elon Musk after claim he was a pedophile

British rescuer Vern Unsworth says he is considering legal action against US billionaire Elon Musk after he made an unfounded and disparaging claim he was a “pedo”, or pedophile, in a now-deleted tweet.

Unsworth, a caver based in Thailand, provided knowledge of the Tham Luang cave system, which helped with the rescue of 12 school boys and their soccer coach in a flooded Thai cave last week.

Musk, the CEO of several high-profile American tech companies, broadcast the claim to his 22 million social media followers on Sunday after Unsworth criticized a miniature submarine he made.

Asked by a Nine Network reporter if he was going to take legal action again Musk, Unsworth replied: “Yes, yes, it’s not finished.”

“I believe he’s called me a pedophile. Well, (if) by definition rescuing 12 young boys…that puts everybody in the same context.”

Asked how he felt about Musk’s remark, Unsworth added: “I am not gonna make any further comment about him but I think people realize what sort of a guy he is.”

The unfounded claim came after Unsworth called Musk’s miniature sub a “PR stunt.”

He had said in an earlier interview with CNN that Musk’s miniature escape pod “had absolutely no chance of working”.

He can “stick his submarine where it hurts,” Unsworth said during the interview in Thailand.