Thai cave boys safe after daring rescue
18-DAY ORDEAL ENDS IN SUCCESS
A DARING rescue mission in the treacherous confines of a flooded cave in Thailand has saved 12 boys and their football coach, who were trapped deep within the labyrinth.
The rescue operation ended an 18-day ordeal that claimed the life of an experienced volunteer diver and riveted people around the world.
Cheers erupted at a local government office where dozens of volunteers were awaiting news of whether the intricate and highrisk rescue mission had succeeded, as helicopters taking the boys to hospital roared overhead.
Thailand’s navy Seals, who were central to the rescue effort, said that the remaining four boys and their 25-year-old coach were all brought out safely yesterday. Eight of the boys were rescued by a team of 18 Thai and international divers on Sunday and Monday.
Seven divers in the rescue team were from the UK, including Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, who were the first to reach the group last week.
“We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave,” the Seals said, referring to the name of the boys’ football team. “Everyone is safe.”
The boys were trapped in the Tham Luan Nang Non cave on June 23, when they were exploring it after football practice and it became flooded by monsoon rains.