FOOTBALLERS COMING HOME!
JUBILANT people have taken to the streets in Thailand to celebrate today after the rescue of 12 boys who were trapped inside a flooded cave for 17 days.
After a three-day rescue mission, the brave lads and their football coach are being treated by medics following their nightmare stint in the tunnel network in Chiang Rai.
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Jubilant scenes in Thailand following the safe rescue of the boys football team from the caves
And people in northern Thailand were today photographed celebrating in the streets after their miracle escape.
A woman outside the Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, where the rescued boys are being treated, hoisted her baby in the air in delight.
Rescue workers and journalists near the Tham Luang cave complex were also seen raising their arms above their heads in celebration.
On the first two days of the dangerous escape bid, eight brave children were rescued from the living nightmare after swimming through muddy water chaperoned by two adult guides.
A ninth child was saved this morning while reporters saw an ambulance leaving the site in northern Thailand.
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Minutes later, a tenth person was seen being stretchered away from the site by a witness who works for the Reuters news agency.
Witnesses the confirmed that an 11th lad was carried from the site before reports from the scene revealed that the last boy and the football coach had been successfully rescued.
The Royal Thai Navy Seals confirmed that the mission was complete on their Facebook page.
They posted: “All 12 Wild Boars and coach have been extracted from the cave. Hooyah!”
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Timeline of the drama which has gripped the world
June 23: 12 members of the local Wild Boars team and their coach, 25, became trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave before being reported missing by worried parents
June 24: Search and rescue find soccer shoes and backpacks left behind by the boys near the cave entrance
June 25: As the search expands, handprints and footprints thought to belong to the boys are found farther from the cave entrance
June 26: About a dozen Thai navy SEALs and others searchers penetrate the cave are seriously handicapped by muddy water that has filled some chambers to their ceilings
June 27: More heavy rainfall hampers search efforts, flooding underground passages faster than water can be pumped out
June 27: An American military team and British cave experts, along with several other private teams of foreign cavers, join the operation
June 28: Efforts begin to drain groundwater from the cave by drilling from outside into the mountain. A search for other entrances to the cave intensifies as diving is temporarily suspended for safety reasons
June 29: Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visits the site and urges relatives of the missing not to give up hope. Efforts to drain the cave with pumps make little progress
June 30: The effort to locate the missing picks up pace again, as a break in the rain eases flooding in the system. In anticipation of finding the boys, an evacuation drill is held to practice the rescue
July 1: Rescue divers advance into the main passageway inside the flooded cave and set up a staging area inside. Thai navy SEALs reach a bend where the half-mile long passage splits in two directions
July 2: Two expert British cave divers locate the missing boys and their coach. They record video of the boys talking with them
July 3: The videos are released and show the boys taking turns introducing themselves, folding their hands together in a traditional Thai greeting and saying their names. The boys also say they are healthy
July 4: Seven navy SEALs and a doctor join the boys with food and medicine
July 5: The boys continue with diving lessons in case a decision is made to extract them through a route that is partially underwater. The effort to pump out water in increased
July 6: Officials indicate that they favour extracting the boys as soon as possible, fearing further danger if they are forced to stay inside by more rain causing additional flooding
July 6: A former navy SEAL aiding the rescue effort dies from a lack of oxygen during his mission. Concern increases about lack of air supply inside the cave
July 7: Officials suggest that an underwater evacuation will be made in the following few days because of an incoming rainstorm
July 8: The official heading the rescue operation declares that "D-Day" has arrived as he announces the start of the operation. Divers take four of the boys out through tight passages and flooded caverns
July 9: Divers bring four more boys to safety during the second day of the rescue operation. This leaves four lads and their coach still inside the cave
July 10: On the third day of the operation, divers rescue the remaining four boys and their footy coach, ending an ordeal that lasted more than two weeks
Four of the divers who were in the cave helping the stricken football team have yet to emerged from the tunnel network.
This morning, cheers erupted outside the Thai cave when the rescue mission's chief confirmed that all four remaining boys and their coach would be saved today.
Speaking before the operation re-started at 10.08am local time, Narongsak Osottanakorn said: “All five will be brought out at the same time today.”
His statement sparked jubiliant scenes at the news conferance attended by reporters and rescue workers.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
- All 12 boys and their football coach have been rescued from the cave in Chiang Rai so far
- The rescue operation to save remaining lads and their teacher restarted this morning
- The eight kids rescued on Sunday and Monday are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems
- Two of them possibly have a lung infection and it could be at least seven days before they leave hospital
- Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind glass
- Rescued boys swam through 1km of murky water with the help of two elite divers
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Osottanakorn said: "We expect that if there is no unusual condition ... the four boys, one coach, the doctor, and three SEALs who have been with the boys since the first day will come out today."
He said that the health of the five people left is "still good" while earlier he suggested that the football coach Ekaphol Chantawong, 25, could be left for another night in the cave alone.
The eight boys already rescued are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems.
Dr Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, deputy director-general of the Public Health Ministry, said the first four boys rescued, aged 12 to 16, are now able to eat normal food.
Two of them possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally "healthy and smiling," he said.
It could be at least seven days before they can be released from hospital while the boys are being kept away from their parents over the risk of them contracting an infection, officials said.
Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass isolation barrier, and Jesada said doctors may let the boys walk around their beds.
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Dr Chokdumrongsuk added that the footy-loving boys will remain in hospital for at least one week and would not be fit enough to travel to Russia to take up FIFA’s invite to the World Cup final.
He said: “The boys are unlikely to be well enough to go to watch the World Cup final in Moscow but they can watch it live on the TV for sure.”
The indentity of the second group of lads rescued on Monday has been revealed.
However, authorities have confirmed they are aged 12 to 14 which means 11-year-old Chanin Wiboonrungruang is still in the cave.
Officials say the first four boys rescued can now eat normal food but not anything that's spicy and that they asked for bread with chocolate topping for breakfast.
It comes as it was revealed a fast food treat awaits the rescued footie players and their still-trapped pals when they get out.
After more than two weeks inside the flooded Tham Luang cave complex, the boys were promised meals of KFC as well as lighter schoolwork by teachers and classmates.
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The principal of Mae Sai Prasitsart School, which six of the 12 boys attend, said educators will do everything possible to ensure the boys can ease back into their regular lives.
Kanet Pongsuwan told USA Today: “We will treat them positively, and not put the blame on them for anything.
“They were the victims of a disaster.”
Kanet said the boys, all members of the Wild Boars soccer team, will receive extra tutoring to catch them up on their studies since going missing June 23 inside the labyrinthine complex in northern Thailand.
The boys also won’t have to take exams scheduled for next week.
“We’re going to eat fried chicken at KFC,” said Poowadet Khamngern, a 14-year-old who plays on the Wild Boars.
Three Lions fan could go 'crazy' if England made final
The grandmother of Sompong Jaiwong, 13, who was seen wearing an England shirt while in the cave, said he would go “crazy with happiness” if the Three Lions made it to the World Cup final.
Loving gran Pakkam Kamtaew, 71, who cares for orphan Sompong, said: “He loves the England team. He knows all the players.
"I don’t know why he likes England so much, but he just always has.
“He always wants an England shirt if we go clothes shopping.
“We heard about them being invited to the World Cup final and he would go crazy with happiness if he could go.
“If England were in the final, I think he would be very, very happy.”
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Animation of Thai cave shows the obstacles facing rescuers trying to extract the 12 boys and their football coach
On Sunday, a dream team of 13 cave divers and five Thai Navy SEALs helped give four of the kids their first breath of fresh air in 15 days.
The condition or the indentity of those rescued on Monday is unknown while the lads saved on Sunday are being treated in hospital and are said to be in good health.
Despite overnight rain showers, Thai authorities said the downpours did not change water level in cave.
Sunday's near-four hour rescue bid, led by British divers, was described as a “masterpiece” and saw the children swimming through the deadly tunnel network which claimed the life of a Navy SEAL last week.
They were guided out by two scuba divers each wearing full face breathing masks but are now being kept away from their parents over potential risk of infection, officials said.
The lads were named in local media as Monhkhol Boonpiam, 13, Prachak Sutham, 14, Natthawut Thakhamsai, 14, and Phipat Phothi, 15.
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Rescue chief Osottanakorn said the four boys who were saved on Sunday were in good spirits despite being hungry.
He said: “They are well and happy. This morning they complained that they are hungry and they asked for fried basil with rice."
Speaking at a news conference Osatanakorn said: "All conditions are still as good as they were yesterday.
"The boys' strength, the plan today, we are ready like before. And we will do it faster because we are afraid of the rain."
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Monhkhol, also known as Mark, was the first to taste freedom before being followed by "quiet but sport-loving” Prajak.
Third out the cave was asthma-sufferer Nattawoot whose parents lost a a baby daughter to cancer.
Last out was Pipat, also known as Nick, who was not even a member of the football team but came along with his pal who is the goalkeeper.
Three were airlifted to Prachanukroh Hospital in provincial capital a Chiang Rai yesterday evening while another was driven in hospital.
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Nightmare may have only just begun
The brave boys and their coach may suffer a huge mental and physical toll caused by their harrowing ordeal, experts warn.
The ordeal could trigger muscle atrophy, infections, a confused body clock and PTSD-triggering trauma.
Dr Sam Oliver, from Bangor University, told The Sun Online the boys may be suffering from the "perfect storm" of psychological stress, sleep disruption, nutritional restriction and dehydration.
He said: "Work by our lab and others has shown all these factors can impair the immune system, most likely by increasing immunosuppressive stress hormones, and this increases risk of infection and illness.
"In time the lack of sun exposure may also add to stresses by decreasing vitamin D status."
Neil Greenberg, a professor with Defence Mental Health at King’s College London, said there was a possibility the boys could develop PTSD, a generalised anxiety disorder, or what is known as "adjustment disorder".
They would require a lot of support from family and friends after being freed, but until then it was important no-one - including the boys' family members - pass on their anxieties about the situation.
He said: "At this stage the whole focus has to be 'keep strong'. What they'll probably be trying to do is mention 'here we are, we're a team, we're going to be OK'.
"We know that when people are captive, for any reason, that when they get out of it there is a bounce back effect, we call it the transitional effect, from when they're released, to getting back to normal."
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Ambulance arrives at hospital as first two of Thai soccer team rescued from the Chiang Rai cave system
Thai Navy SEALs posted after the successful first leg of the operation: “Tonight we can sleep well.”
After the four were pulled to safety, rescue efforts in the Chang Hai province were stopped because divers used all of their oxygen tanks.
"I feel very happy, everybody is happy," said Hnin Jaiwong, the mother of one of the trapped boys, 13-year-old Sompong Jaiwong.
"I don't know if he is out, they didn't tell us," she said as she rested in a hut close to the mouth of the cave.
A source inside the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital where the first four boys are being kept said their condition was "not bad" but doctors were watching for signs of conditions such as hypothermia.
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The players - aged 11 to 16 - have been trapped in Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district for 15 days.
Officials made a move to get them out after rain set in - with torrential monsoon downpours forecast for the coming days.
Governor of northern Chiang Rai province Osottanakorn said rescuers were in a “war against water”.
He said: “The fear was that if we didn’t move now the rain would gush down the mountain and fill the cave leaving the boys in an even worse situation than there in in the first place.
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“The divers are all international all-stars and we selected five our best to help them.”
Australian doctor Richard Harris checked the boys on Saturday and gave them the all clear before they were evacuated.
According to local media, Dr Harris convinced officials to change the rescue plan and bring the weakest lads out first - because he feared they may have not survived in the cave much longer.
Parents of the kids had to sign a waiver agreeing to let their kids be rescued.
Australian doctor's pivotal role in rescue operation
An Aussie doctor was reportedly responsible for persuading rescuers to change their strategy and pull the weakest boys out first.
After assessing the 12 children, Dr Richard Harris, 53, from Adelaide, told officials that he feared the frailer lads may not survive another night in the cave, according to reports.
The original plan was to save the strongest boys from the tunnel complex in northern Thailand first.
Dr Harris, who has 30 years of diving experience, risked his own life to make the journey through the cave on Sunday morning to check the boys.
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On Friday a former Thai Navy SEAL diver died while taking part in the mission.
The effort to free the boys from the cave has attracted experts from all over the world including the USA, Europe, Australia, China and Japan.
US president Donald Trump tweeted: “The U.S. is working very closely with the Government of Thailand to help get all of the children out of the cave and to safety. Very brave and talented people!”
Before the rescues began, American tech billionaire Elon Musk had his SpaceX engineers working on a “tiny, kid-size submarine” constructed out of parts from a Falcon 9 rocket.
But while the head of the rescue mission, Narongsak Osotthanakorn acknowledged the offer to help, he said: "The equipment they brought to help us is not practical with our mission."
He added: "Even though their equipment is technologically sophisticated, it doesn’t fit with our mission to go in the cave."
Each rescued boy has made the arduous journey through the murky water of the cave network with the help of two elite divers.
It is thought the lads swam through 1km of water, and walked through other sections of the tunnels, as they finally returned home after 15 gruelling days.
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Footage of Saman Kunan, Thai cave volunteer who died trying to save trapped schoolboys, preparing to fly out to join rescue mission
Authorities have said it takes roughly 11 hours to do a round-trip from the cave entrance to where the boys are huddled on a muddy bank.
While they waited to be saved last week, the trapped boys sent tear-jerking letters to their parents pleading with them not to worry.
Delivered by divers on Friday, the notes told their families that they were being well looked after.
One of the youngsters even joked about not forgetting his birthday and called the Thai Navy Seals looking after them their "brothers".
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In the collective letter from all 12 children they say they want to go "straight home".
One lad, Sompong Jaiwong, 13, wrote: "Don't worry about me. I am safe now. I love you."
Panumas Saengdee, 13, wrote: "I miss everyone. I miss grandpa, auntie, mum, dad and all my brothers and sisters."
And Duangphet Promthep, also 13, wrote: "I am good but it's a little bit cold here. Don't worry about me. And don't forget to organise a birthday party for me."
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It comes as the coach who organised the ill fated trip has apologised to the boy's parents.
Ekapol, the 25-year-old coach of the Wild Boars football team, wrote: "To the parents of all the kids, right now the kids are all fine, the crew are taking good care.
"I promise I will care for the kids as best as possible. I want to say thanks for all the support and I want to apologise to the parents."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Rescuers drilled more than 100 shafts through mountain rock as they desperately tried to reach the trapped footballers.
The boys, 11 to 16, and their coach went exploring in the cave after a football match on June 23.
Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.
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