Sunglasses and chocolates: Boys are recovering

CHIANG RAI, Thailand — The first eight boys rescued from a Thai cave are in decent physical and mental health, with some even asking for chocolate, but they remain in hospital and under psychological observation for any lasting damage from their underground ordeal.

Doctors are taking no chances with their physical recovery, quarantining the group, administering tetanus and rabies shots, and putting two of the team on antibiotics after they showed signs of pneumonia.

They have also been given sunglasses to wear as they adjust to daylight after days trapped in the dark.

Authorities had closely guarded the details of the boys’ condition, who will be monitored in hospital for a week.

But at a Tuesday news conference, they were optimistic about the progress of the eight “Wild Boars” to emerge so far, in two long and complex days of operations to free them.

“They are all in good spirits and happy to be out,” Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, permanent secretary of the public health ministry, told reporters.

“Everyone is in a good mental state,” he said but added psychologists will work with them.

Experts had warned of possible long-term psychological damage, such as PTSD, from the ordeal, including the initial 10 days underground, in darkness and without contact with the outside world.

“It is certainly a risk and can take some time to manifest itself and make its presence known,” said Andrew Watson, a specialist on rescues from mines and floods.

“I am not sure about children and how they will react.”

Yet initial reports suggest the eight boys, aged 12-16, were in good shape, despite spending more than two weeks underground.

“The boys were asking for bread with chocolate spread,” Jedsada said.

The final four and their coach were rescued later on Tuesday after 17 nights inside the cave system.

Quarantine

Thong chai Lertwilairatan apong, Inspector General of the public health ministry, said the first four — aged 14 to 16 — taken out on Sunday were eating normal, plain food.

Spicy Thai basil leaves on rice, or Pad Krapao, was the meal of choice for the group of four boys after they were rescued from Tham Luang Cave on Sunday, rescue mission chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said on Monday, The Nation newspaper reported.

“They made a special request that they wished to have Pad Krapao,” he said.

For now the boys remain in quarantine but some of their parents have been able to see their children through the glass.

After more lab results are scrutinized, parents of the first four will after 48 hours be allowed to visit their children at their beds wearing protective gear.