Cave boys ordained as Buddhist novices
BANGKOK: Thai boys rescued from a flooded had their heads shaved yesterday before a Buddhist ordination ceremony in honour of a diver who died during the operation.
The saga of the Wild Boars football team transfixed the world as divers worked to get them out of the Tham Luang cave, where they spent up to 18 days.
Now, 11 of the boys will live as novice monks and stay in monasteries for nine days starting today to “make merit” for former Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan, who died while installing oxygen tanks along the rescue route.
“It’s something we’ve been thinking to do since they got out of the cave,” said Aisha Wiboonrungrueang, mother of 11-year-old Chanin. “Now it’s about time.”
Their coach will enter monkhood. One player, Adul Sam-on, attended the event, but will not be ordained as he is Christian.
Wearing white clothes, the boys pressed their palms together in prayer during the morning ceremony as a saffron-robed monk gave thanks for their safe rescue.
The boys and their coach lit yellow candle sticks at the Wat Phra That Doi Wao, a scenic temple in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, where the boys are from.
In Sydney, nine Australians who helped in the rescue were given state honours yesterday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declaring their bravery an inspiration to the world.
Anaesthetist Richard Harris and his diving partner, veterinarian Craig Challen, both cave diving specialists, were awarded the Star of Courage, Australia’s second-highest bravery decoration.
Six police officers and a navy officer were given the thirdhighest decoration, the Bravery Medal.