12 trapped boys are being taught to dive

BY AMY-CLARE MARTIN THE 12 Thai boys trapped inside a flooded cave are being taught to dive in a fight against time as waters rise.

So far only top cave divers have navigated the 2.5-mile network of narrow caves where murky waters have been likened to “black coffee”.

Thailand’s deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan said: “The water is very strong and space is narrow. Now we are teaching the children to swim and dive.”

But British caver Vern Unsworth, who has been advising rescue teams, warned that water levels are rising.

He said: “We’ll keep our fingers crossed – everybody needs to pray and hope for a good outcome.”

If rescuers cannot get them out soon, they could be trapped for months until the rainy season ends.

Up to 20 British divers are on hand to assist in the rescue.

The footballers, aged 11 to 16, were found with their coach, 25, in the Tham Luang caves, northern Thailand, on Monday after being missing nine days.

They may have gone in as part of an initiation ritual after match practice, said one diver.

Thai travel chiefs now plan to promote the caves as a tourist destination after the global interest, said a local newspaper.

PRAWIT WONGSUWAN THAILAND DEPUTY PM