Real-life hero to movie star... Thai cave diver’s debut

IT’S not an experience you’d think you would want to relive in a hurry, but Thai cave hero Jim Warny is playing himself in a film about the rescue of 12 boys earlier his year.

The 35-year-old was spotted in Shannon Airport on Sunday afternoon filming a scene in which he returns home to Clare after rescuing the boys and their coach from a flooded underground cavern in Thailand.

Clare-based Jim was vital to the rescue that gripped the world in July and carried the boys’ coach from the cave in the final rescue.

There were multiple takes of the airport homecoming scene, with actors playing reporters asking Jim how he felt about his experience.

After the twelfth take, the Belgian quipped: ‘This is harder than the real thing.’

Director Tom Waller said he believes managing to persuade Jim to play himself in the movie would bring ‘something magical’ to the film.

A Thai film-maker, whose father is from Co. Tipperary, Mr Waller said that ‘Something magical’: Jim Warny he is telling the story of the Thai rescue from a number of perspectives.

He said: ‘Jim is a very humble, unassuming man. He is basically an electrician from Shannon.

‘When I decided to make this movie, I thought – “wouldn’t it cool to have an electrician from Shannon, a rice farmer from Thailand and a US military man from Okinawa involved”.’ The scene of the hero’s return on Sunday is one of a number of scenes shot around Clare over recent days and Jim will be travelling over to Thailand later this month to shoot some of the cave scenes.

Jim said that he would like to meet with the rescued boys when he gets to Thailand.

‘I know the British guys met them there last week, and that’s going to be a very special moment. That will come in time. If it happens in ten years’ time, it’s okay too. I know they are quite busy as well, they have a busy schedule now.’ He added: ‘They [the boys] are the real heroes. The way they stuck together, the way they endured those days. They are not trained like we are.’ Asked about playing himself, Jim smiled and said: ‘Who else could play me anyway, with my accent? You can’t find a stunt man either to go into the caves.’

Mr Waller said he is hoping production will be complete by the end of the year and is aiming for a worldwide release on the anniversary of the rescue mission.

‘This is harder than the real thing’