When was young we had the Eagle (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(British_comics) ) - full of useful stuff like how to hide underwater while an enemy patrol searches for you (the reeds in the illustration can be used as straws for you to breath through until the enemy passes). A giant octopus drags you into its lair and so forth. I don't recall the "11 days in a cave expecting to die of starvation." article but it was probably covered. My parents' generation had bombs dropped on them and were expected to jump out of little boats under enemy fire - this was before PTSD had been invented. Coach (apparently) gave any food he might have had to the children - a tough and exemplary cookie.
With one diver in front of the child and one behind - if the child had panicked there is every chance all three would died. These aren't unloved and uncared for children abandoned on the street.