ONE FINAL PUSH
Rain threatens bid to free last 4 boys
RESCUERS face a race against time to save the remaining four Thai boys from their cave hell.
Heavy rain is forecast that will again flood the tunnels, threatening to swamp the footballers and their coach who are still inside.
Four more boys were taken to safety yesterday, bringing the total rescued to eight. They were led through the flooded cave system by an international team of divers, including Thailand’s elite Navy Seals.
They are all receiving specialist care after being whisked to hospital by air ambulance. There are fears they could be suffering from hypothermia and an airborne lung infection known as “cave disease”, which is caused by bat and bird droppings.
Huddled
Rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said: “All four boys have arrived at hospital, all are safe.”
But when asked about the remaining four Wild Boars team members and their trainer, he warned: “It depends on the plan.
“We have set the plan for four people, so if they want to take five out at the same time, then they need to change the plan.” The rescue mission at the Tham Luang cave in the northern province of Chiang Rai started on Sunday.
The boys, aged 11 to 16, were found huddled on a muddy bank by British divers over a week ago.
Somboon Sompiangjai, 38, the father of one of the trapped boys, said: “We have not been told which child has been brought out.
“We can’t visit our boys in hospital because they need to be monitored for 48 hours. I’m hoping for good news.”