US rescue teams have been unable to reach the students’ car, which is partially submerged in a river at the base of a 150-metre cliff in California, due to weather conditions and a strong river current.

Ekkachai Taidecha, the uncle of Bhakapon Chairattanasongporn, 28, told reporters in front of the US Embassy that it had been almost two weeks since the accident, which saw Bhakapon and Thiwadee Saengsuriyarit, 24, go missing. Thai Consul General to Los Angeles Tanee Sangrat said this week that the bodies of the students were found in the car.

“If this accident happened in Thailand, Thai rescuers would be able to get the bodies within 12 hours, no matter how bad the weather was. They would not have to use a helicopter,” Ekkachai said. “It has hurt to see my sister, who is now waiting for the retrieval in the US, endure the suffering and grief every second that passes.”

If the US ambassador sympathised with the family’s ordeal, he should approve visas for a Thai team, Ekkachai said.

“However, I don’t think the US will approve the visa as my act is a symbolic expression regarding the US’s failure,” he said.

He added that his action was meant to force US authorities to work faster on the retrieval. “I want to ask the US ambassador if they were US citizens, would the recovery would take such a long time?” Ekkachai asked.