Floral tribute: Flowers for former Seal who died trying to rescue boys stranded in Thai cave

People offer flowers and donations during a cleansing ceremony and memorial service for former Thai navy Seal Petty Officer Saman Gunan in Mae Sai district, northern Thailand, yesterday.

Saman volunteered to help his old comrades in their risky mission to evacuate the 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave and died during an underwater swim. He lost consciousness on his way out of the Tham Luang cave complex, where he had been delivering air tanks.

Some of the specialists have expressed shock that Saman, 38, was the only person killed in the perilous venture.