THEY’RE COMING HOME!
Trapped England fan and all his cave mates rescued after 18 days
A DARING rescue mission in the treacherous 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 diver and riveted people around the world.
Cheers erupted at a local government office, where volunteers and journalists awaited news of whether the intricate and high-risk rescue mission had succeeded, just as helicopters taking the boys to hospital roared overhead.
Miracle
Thailand’s navy Seals, who were central to the rescue effort, said on their Facebook page that the remaining four boys and their 25-year-old coach were all brought out safely on Tuesday.
Eight of the boys were rescued by a team of 18 Thai and international divers on Sunday and Monday.
One of the boys appeared to be wearing a red replica England football shirt.
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.” Payap Maiming, 40, who provided food and necessities to rescue workers, said a “miracle” had happened.
“I’m happy for Thais all over the country, for the people of Mae Sai, this is what we have been waiting for,” she said.
“It’s really a miracle. It’s hope and faith that has brought us this success.”
The plight of the boys and their coach has captivated Thailand and the world.
Anxious
The drama unfolded from the heartbreaking news that they were missing right through to the first flickering video of the huddle of anxious, yet smiling, boys when they were found 10 days later by the British divers.
They were trapped in the Tham Luan Nang Non cave on June 23, as they were exploring it after football practice and it became flooded by monsoon rains.
Each of the boys, aged 11 to 16 and with no diving experience, was guided out by a pair of divers in three days of intricate and high-stakes operations.
The route, in some places just a crawl space, had oxygen canisters positioned at regular intervals to refresh each team’s air supply.
Permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry, Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, said it could be at least seven days before the boys can be released from hospital.
Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass barrier.