Tech Billionaire Elon Musk has been turned away by Thai rescuers after he arrived at the cave where four boys and their coach remain trapped with a submarine.

The eccentric inventor had hoped the sub - built from spare rocket parts and named Wild Board after the children's soccer team - could be used in the rescue.

But Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn, who is coordinating efforts to save the boys, said the machine is 'not practical for this mission'.

However, Mr Osottanakorn did thank Musk for his efforts, also describing the technology as 'good and sophisticated'.

Despite being turned away, Musk put out an optimistic tweet saying he was 'leaving [the submarine] here in case it may be useful in the future.'

Rescue teams have already extracted eight Thai boys from the cave, and all are recovering from their ordeal in hospital and said to be in good health.

The remaining four boys and their coach will be brought out by the end of Tuesday, according to Mr Osottanakorn.

It was initially thought that the team could have to spend up to four months inside the cave until floodwaters receded.

But further rains forecast for this week spurred rescuers into action, amid fears the water level could rise again and drown them.

Musk tweeted Tuesday morning he'd 'Just returned from Cave 3,' referring to the rescuers' command center inside the sprawling cave.

He posted photos of the cave interior and a video showing members of the rescue team working their way through chest-high water.

Earlier this week, Musk posted videos of the sub being tested in a swimming pool in California with simulated narrow passages like the cave.

Cave Three is about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the entrance of the cave network and is the base for Thai rescuers.

The footballers still awaiting rescue are about two kilometers further in, at a point very difficult to access.

By Monday night, elite divers had managed to bring out eight members of the football team which included 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach.

The Thai rescue effort has been assisted by experts from around the world, and the death of a former Thai Navy SEAL diver who ran out of oxygen in the cave on Friday underscored the dangers of the mission.

After garnering headlines with initial ideas of installing a giant air tube inside the cave complex and using his firm's penetrating radar to dig holes to reach the boys, Musk offered his idea for the mini-sub.

He called it 'basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of (a) Falcon rocket as hull.'

Musk said it was light enough to be carried by two divers, robust, and small enough to get through narrow gaps.

The person inside need not swim or know how to use oxygen bottles.

He posted video of divers escorting the pod during testing in a Los Angeles swimming pool.

Last week, Musk said he was sending teams to Thailand from his private space exploration firm, SpaceX, and engineering firm, Boring Co. which is developing tunneling systems for transport projects.

While offering the mini-submarine as a potential savior, Musk used the opportunity to promote space exploration. He is also co-founder of the Tesla electric car company.

The Thai soccer team ventured into the Tham Luang cave complex after practice and became trapped by rising waters more than a fortnight ago.</s>3rd mission underway at Thai cave, aims to rescue all left

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Divers have begun the third phase of the rescue of a youth soccer team trapped for more than two weeks in a flooded cave in northern Thailand and aim to bring out the last four boys and their coach Tuesday, the top rescue official said.

The eight boys brought out by divers over the previous two days are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems because they are soccer players, a senior health official said. Doctors were being cautious because of the infection risk and were isolating the boys in the hospital.

Chiang Rai Gov.Narongsak Osatanakorn said Tuesday's rescue operation began just after 10 a.m. and involves 19 divers. A medic and three Thai Navy SEALs who have stayed with the boys on a small, dry shelf deep in the flooded cave will also come out, he 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 told a news conference to loud cheering.

Nargonsak said this phase may take longer than the previous two rescue missions, which took up to 11 hours.

The plight of the boys and their coach has riveted Thailand and much of the world — from the heart-sinking news they were missing to the first flickering video of the huddle of anxious yet smiling boys when they were found 10 days later by a pair of British divers. They were trapped in the Tham Luan Nang Non cave that became flooded by monsoon rains while they were exploring it after a soccer practice on June 23.

At a news conference, Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry, said the first four boys rescued, aged 12 to 16, are now able to eat normal food, though they can't yet take the spicy food favored by many Thais.

Two of the boys possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally "healthy and smiling," he said.

"The kids are footballers so they have high immune systems," Jesada said. "Everyone is in high spirits and are happy to get out. But we will have a psychiatrist to evaluate them."

It could be at least seven days before they can be released from hospital, Jesada told a news conference.

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 Tuesday.

It was clear doctors were taking a cautious approach. Jesada said they were uncertain what type of infections the boys could face "because we have never experienced this kind of issue from a deep cave."

The second group of four rescued on Monday are aged 12 to 14.

Four ambulances and a convoy of other vehicles arrived at the cave site Tuesday morning to prepare for the third phase of the rescue. Heavy rains in the morning cleared during the day, leaving the teams operating outside the cave in stifling heat.

This story has been updated with correct title and first name of health ministry official.</s>An ambulance with flashing lights left the site of a flooded cave in northern Thailand where a youth soccer team has been trapped for two weeks, just hours after the second phase of a rescue operation was launched on Monday.

The ambulance drove toward a helipad, where a helicopter was seen taking off shortly after to the cheers of the crowd below. The same process was used Sunday for at least one of the four boys rescued in the first attempt at getting the 12 boys and their coach out of the underground complex.

Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said the second phase began at 11 a.m. and authorities "hope to hear good news in the next few hours." Nine people remained trapped in the cave, including the team's coach, as of Monday morning.

"All conditions are still as good as they were yesterday," Narongsak told a news conference. "The boys' strength, the plan — today we are ready like before. And we will do it faster because we are afraid of the rain."

Authorities have been rushing to extract the boys, ages 11-16, and their coach from the cave as the annual monsoon bears down on the mountainous region in far northern Chiang Rai province. Workers have been laboring around the clock to pump water out of the cave, and authorities said Monday that heavy downpours overnight did not raise water levels inside.

The four boys pulled from the cave Sunday in an urgent and dangerous operation that involved them diving through the cave's dark, tight and twisting passages were happy and in good health, authorities said.

"This morning they said they were hungry and wanted to eat khao pad grapao," Narongsak said, referring to a Thai dish of meat fried with chili and basil and served over rice.

Still, the four were undergoing medical checks in a hospital in the provincial capital and were not yet allowed close contact with relatives due to fear of infections. Relatives were able to see them through a glass partition, the governor said.

The boys and their coach went exploring in the massive Tham Luang Nang Non cave on June 23 after a soccer practice, and were cut off when a rainstorm flooded the cave. A massive international search operation was launched and it took 10 days to locate the boys, who had taken shelter on a dry slope deep in the complex.

The search and rescue operation has riveted people both in Thailand and internationally, with journalists from across the globe traveling to this town along the border with Myanmar to report on the ordeal.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda had said early Monday that the same group of expert divers who took part in Sunday's rescue would return to extricate the others because they know the cave conditions and what to do. He had said fresh air tanks needed to be laid along the underwater route.

Authorities have said extracting the entire team from the cave could take up to four days, but Sunday's success raised hopes that it could be done faster.

Sunday's mission involved 13 foreign divers and five Thai navy SEALs. Two divers accompanied each of the boys, all of whom have been learning to dive only since July 2, when searchers found them.

Cave rescue experts have said they consider an underwater escape to be a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving.

The death Friday of a former Thai navy SEAL underscored the risks. The diver, the first fatality of the rescue effort, was working in a volunteer capacity and died on a mission to place air canisters along the passage to where the boys are, necessary for divers to safely travel the five- to six-hour route.

There were several concerns that prompted authorities to move forward with the plan to dive the boys out. One was that it was unknown how safe and dry the area where they had taken shelter would stay as Thailand's rainy season, which lasts until at least late October, picks up pace.

The other, and perhaps more worrying, was that oxygen levels in the complex were falling close to dangerous levels.</s>The eight boys brought out by divers over the previous two days are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems because they are soccer players, a Thai health official said.

The eight boys brought out by divers over the previous two days are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems because they are soccer players, a Thai health official said.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). One of two ambulances with flashing lights leaves the cave rescue area in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018. The ambulance has left the cave complex area hours after the start of the second ...

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). One of two ambulances with flashing lights leaves the cave rescue area in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018. The ambulance has left the cave complex area hours after the start of the second ...

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Rescuers move to the entrance to a cave complex where five stil lwere trapped in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018. The eight boys were rescued from the flooded cave.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Rescuers move to the entrance to a cave complex where five stil lwere trapped in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018. The eight boys were rescued from the flooded cave.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Vehicles are stopped at a checkpoint near the entrance to a cave complex where five were still trapped, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian). Hospital workers watch a press conference at their hospital where rescued boys are tended to, in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Rescuers stand at a checkpoint near the entrance to a cave complex where five were still trapped, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). A rescuer moves to the entrance to a cave complex where five still were trapped in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

(Courtesy of Elon Musk via AP). This photo tweeted by Elon Musk shows efforts underway to rescue trapped members of a youth soccer team from a flooded cave in northern Thailand.

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) - The Latest on the rescue of a youth soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand (all times local):

President Donald Trump is congratulating the Thai navy SEALs and their international partners who rescued a youth soccer team and their coach after more than two weeks of entrapment in a cave.

Trump tweeted: "On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand."

He added: "Such a beautiful moment - all freed, great job!"

Eight boys were freed on Sunday and Monday, with the remaining four and their coach rescued on Tuesday.

Thailand's prime minister says the 12 boys saved from a flooded cave were given an anti-anxiety medication to help with their rescue.

Asked at a weekly news conference Tuesday if the boys had been sedated, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said, "Who would chloroform them? If they're chloroformed, how could they come out? It's called Anxiolytic, something to make them not excited, not stressed."

Prayuth also said the Tham Luang cave will be closed for some time. He said it needs to be made safe so it can be developed into a tourist destination.

Thailand's navy SEALs say all 12 boys and their soccer coach have been rescued from a flooded cave in far northern Thailand, ending an ordeal that lasted more than two weeks.

They say the four boys and coach rescued Tuesday, after other rescues in the previous two days, are all safe.

The SEALs say they're still waiting for a medic and three Navy SEALs who stayed with the boys to emerge from the cave.

Three ambulances, their lights flashing, have been seen leaving the site of the flooded Thai cave where rescuers are involved in an all-out effort to rescue members of a youth soccer team and their coach trapped deep within.

Earlier Tuesday, Thai navy SEALS said a ninth boy had been brought out of the cave on the third day of the rescue effort. The departure of the three ambulances suggests others also have been rescued, but there was no immediate official confirmation.

Rescuers hope to complete their mission Tuesday after rescuing four boys on each of the previous two days. That left four boys and their 25-year-old coach still in the cave.

The 12 boys and their coach were trapped by flooding in the cave more than two weeks ago.

Thailand's navy SEALs say a ninth boy has been brought out of a flooded cave in the country's far north.

The SEALs said on their Facebook page that "the 9th Wild Boar was out of the cave at 4:06 p.m." Tuesday, referring to the name of the trapped boys' soccer team.

Rescuers hope to complete their mission Tuesday after rescuing four boys on each of the previous two days.

The 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach were trapped by flooding in the cave more than two weeks ago.

An ambulance has been seen leaving the site of the Thai cave where divers are carrying out what they hope is a final mission to bring out four boys and their soccer coach still trapped deep inside.

At least nine ambulances have been waiting at the site after the leader of the rescue operation said Tuesday's aim was to bring out all five as well as a medic and three Thai Navy SEALS, who have been with the trapped boys.

Tuesday's operation began just after 10 a.m.

In the past two days, eight boys were rescued and are now in a hospital isolation ward while they are tested for any possible infections. Medical experts say they are in high spirits and generally healthy.

The Thai official overseeing the effort to rescue members of a teen soccer team trapped in a flooded cave says a third rescue operation has begun Tuesday and aims to bring out the remaining four boys and their coach.

Chiang Rai Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn says the rescue mission began at 10.08 a.m. and involves 19 divers. He said a medic and three SEALS in the cave, who've been looking after those trapped, will also come out.

Narongsak said, "We expect that if there is no unusual condition ... the 4 boys, 1 coach, the doctor, and 3 SEALs who have been with the boys since first day will come out today."

The eight boys rescued after being trapped for more than two weeks were described as generally healthy.

A Thai public health official says the eight boys rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand are in "high spirits" and have strong immune systems because they are soccer players.

Jesada Chokdumrongsuk, deputy director-general of the Public Health Ministry, said Tuesday that the first four boys rescued, aged 12 to 16, are now able to eat normal food.

He said two of them possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally "healthy and smiling."

He said, "the kids are footballers so they have high immune systems."

The second group of four rescued on Monday are aged 12 to 14.

Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass barrier.

Four boys and their soccer coach remain in the cave.

Three ambulances along with cars, hummers and soldiers have been seen entering the cave site where rescuers have been carrying out a high-stakes operation to bring out trapped members of a youth soccer team.

Heavy rains lashed the northern Thai region late Monday and a steady downpour has continued Tuesday.

After divers brought out four of the boys Monday evening, authorities indicated the rescue operation would continue for a third day. But they also warned heavy rain could hamper their efforts.

The rescue missions take nearly half a day to complete. Monday's mission took about nine hours, two fewer than Sunday's.

So far eight of the boys have been rescued. The team's 25-year-old coach and four boys are still deep inside the flooded and sprawling cave.

Elon Musk says he has visited the flooded cave in northern Thailand where a youth soccer team became trapped and has left a mini-submarine there for future use.

The tech entrepreneur tweeted Tuesday morning he'd "Just returned from Cave 3," referring to the rescuers' command center inside the sprawling cave. He posted photos of the cave interior and a video showing people working their way through chest-high water.

Musk has offered a "kid-sized" submarine, named Wild Boar after the kids' soccer team, to help in the rescue operation. He posted videos of the sub being tested in a swimming pool in California with simulated narrow passages like the cave.

Divers have rescued eight of the boys. Four boys and the coach are still deep inside, and authorities have indicated they're continuing with their so-far successful effort to bring the boys out guided by experienced divers.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>The soccer team has been trapped in the cave since June 23, after fierce rains raised the water level while they were inside.

The soccer team has been trapped in the cave since June 23, after fierce rains raised the water level while they were inside.

The Thai official overseeing the effort to rescue members of a teen soccer team trapped in a flooded cave says a third rescue operation aims to bring out the remaining four boys and their coach.

The Thai official overseeing the effort to rescue members of a teen soccer team trapped in a flooded cave says a third rescue operation aims to bring out the remaining four boys and their coach.

(Courtesy of Elon Musk via AP). This photo tweeted by Elon Musk shows efforts underway to rescue trapped members of a youth soccer team from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. Musk tweeted early Tuesday, July 10, 2018, he has visited the cave and has...

(Courtesy of Elon Musk via AP). This photo tweeted by Elon Musk shows efforts underway to rescue trapped members of a youth soccer team from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. Musk tweeted early Tuesday, July 10, 2018, he has visited the cave and has...

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Rescuers move to the entrance to a cave complex where five stil lwere trapped in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018. The eight boys were rescued from the flooded cave.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). Rescuers move to the entrance to a cave complex where five stil lwere trapped in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand Tuesday, July 10, 2018. The eight boys were rescued from the flooded cave.

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian). People check their mobile phones for update while waiting at a military airbase during emergency helicopter evacuation in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018.

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian). An emergency team believed to be carrying one of the rescued boys from the flooded cave heads to the hospital in Chiang Rai in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018.

(AP Photo/Vincent Thian). An ambulance waiting for arrival of helicopter of the rescued boys from the flooded cave, in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit). One of two ambulances with flashing lights leaves the cave rescue area in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 9, 2018.

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) - A daring rescue mission in the treacherous confines of a flooded cave in northern Thailand has saved all 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped deep within the labyrinth, ending a grueling 18-day ordeal that claimed the life of an experienced diver and riveted people around the world.

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 by early Tuesday evening. Several hours later, a medic and three SEAL divers who had stayed for days with the boys in their tiny refuge in the cave also came out.

Eight of the boys were rescued by a team of Thai and international divers on Sunday and Monday.

"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' soccer team. "Everyone is safe."

Cheers erupted at a local government office where dozens of volunteers and journalists were awaiting news of whether the intricate and high-risk rescue mission had succeeded. Helicopters transporting the boys roared overhead. People on the street cheered and clapped when ambulances ferrying them on the last leg of their journey from the cave arrived at a hospital in Chiang Rai city.

Amporn Sriwichai, an aunt of the rescued coach, Ekkapol Chantawong, said she was happy and excited. "If I see him, I just want to hug him and tell him that I missed him very much," she said.

Payap Maiming, who helped provide food and necessities to rescue workers and journalists, said a "miracle" had happened.

"I'm happy for Thais all over the country," he said. "And actually just everyone in the world because every news channel has presented this story and this is what we have been waiting for."

"It's really a miracle," Payap said. "It's hope and faith that has brought us this success."

The plight of the boys and their coach has captivated not only Thailand, but much of the world - from the heart-sinking news that they were missing, to the first flickering video of the huddle of anxious yet smiling boys when they were found 10 days later by a pair of British divers. They were trapped in the Tham Luang cave on June 23, when they were exploring it after a soccer practice and it became flooded by monsoon rains.

Each of the boys, ages 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.

Highlighting the dangers, a former Thai navy SEAL died Friday while replenishing the canisters.

Cave-diving experts had warned it was potentially too risky to dive the youngsters out.

But Thai officials, acutely aware that the boys could be trapped for months by monsoon rains that would swell waters in the cave system, seized a window of opportunity provided by relatively mild weather. A massive water pumping effort also made the winding cave more navigable. The confidence of the diving team, and expertise specific to the cave, grew after its first successful mission.

"We did something nobody thought possible," Chiang Rai province acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn, leader of the rescue effort, said at a celebratory news conference.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, speaking Tuesday before the final rescue was completed, said the boys were given an anti-anxiety medication to help with their perilous removal from the cave.

Asked at a weekly news conference in Bangkok if the boys had been sedated, Prayuth said: "Who would chloroform them? If they're chloroformed, how could they come out? It's called anxiolytic, something to make them not excited, not stressed."

Prayuth said the Tham Luang cave would be closed for some time to make it safe for visitors.

The eight boys brought out by divers on Sunday and Monday were doing well and were in good spirits, a senior health official said. They were given a treat Tuesday: bread with chocolate spread that they had requested.

Jedsada Chokdumrongsuk, permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry, said the first four boys rescued were able to eat normal food, though they couldn't yet take the spicy dishes favored by many Thais.

Two of the boys possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally "healthy and smiling," he said.

"The kids are footballers, so they have high immune systems," Jedsada said. "Everyone is in high spirits and is happy to get out. But we will have a psychiatrist to evaluate them."

It could be at least seven days before they can be released from the hospital, Jedsada told a news conference.

Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass isolation barrier.

It was clear doctors were taking a cautious approach. Jedsada said they were uncertain what type of infections the boys could face "because we have never experienced this kind of issue from a deep cave."

If medical tests show no dangers, after another two days, parents will be able to enter the isolation area dressed in sterilized clothing and staying 2 meters (yards) away from the boys, said Tosthep Bunthong, a public health official.

John Tangkitcharoenthawon, a local village chairman, was bursting with happiness over the successful rescue.

"If this place had a roof, the morale has gone straight through it," he said.

President Donald Trump joined those paying tribute to the rescuers.

"On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand," he tweeted.

One of soccer's most popular teams, Manchester United, expressed its relief over the rescue and invited the boys and their coach, as well as those who saved them, to come see them play on their home ground this season.

A message posted on the English Premier League club's Twitter account said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected. We would love to welcome the team from Wild Boars Football Club and their rescuers to Old Trafford this coming season."

The international soccer federation, FIFA, had already invited the boys to attend the World Cup final in Russia this Sunday. However, doctors treating the boys said it would be too soon for them to make the trip.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>THAI authorities say they have resumed operations to rescue the remaining eight boys and their soccer coach trapped in the flooded cave after successfully getting four of the boys out.

They said the four boys already rescued are hungry but in good health in a hospital and had even been asking for pad kra pao, a popular Thai dish.

The second operation started at 11am local time (2pm AEST). It takes several hours.

“At 11am sent (in) the second operation,” Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former governor of Chiang Rai province who has stayed on to oversee the rescue mission, said.

He said he hoped the second phase would be “quicker” than the first operation to extract four boys.

Gov. Osotthanakorn told reporters the rescue mission is five hours ahead of schedule due to the low water levels.

“We will receive good news in a few hours,” he said.

The four rescued boys will not be allowed physical contact with their parents until the risk of infection has gone, Gov. Osotthanakorn said.

“They (the four) will be kept away from their parents for a while because we are concerned about infections,” he told reporters, adding doctors will decide on family visits “at a distance or through glass.”

The second rescue mission is being carried out by the same team of divers that extracted the first four boys.

Earlier in the day, a rescuer at the site tweeted: “Started to transport air bottles, the medic team is in place, ready to take 4-6 boar out soon. Cloudy skies but not yet rain. But if it rains we don’t care – it will have no impact.”

The rescuer was referring to the Moo Pa Academy soccer squad, which translates as “wild boar”.

Other vision showed defibrillators were being sent into the cave network, should the worst happen.

The Tham Luang cave network has, until now, been little understood by speleogists, who are fast getting a lesson on the 10km system’s twists and turns.

The main issue facing rescuers — apart from extreme low visibility and the dual issue of oxygen depletion and carbon monoxide overload in the cave’s chambers — is a dangerous a choke point about 1km from where the remaining boys are trapped on a muddy ledge.

It requires divers to lead the boys down a narrow tunnel, at points only .7m wide, then up to above the water level, then down another tunnel once again into a deep pool.

The professional divers are leading the boys out in pairs, with two divers escorting each boy and holding his tank to make his journey easier.

Local television showed footage of air tanks being winched through the cave on rope pulleys as they begin to attack the next phase of the mission.

There are reports that British divers Rick Stanton and Joahn Volanthen, who found the boys trapped on a ledge last Monday, are closely involved in the rescue, while an Australian anaesthetist and diver, Richard Harris, gave the four boys a final check before releasing them for the journey on Sunday.

LISTEN TO OUR REPORTER PAUL TOOHEY IN CHIANG RAI

“It’s wonderful news and we are very relieved that the four boys have been evacuated,” said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. “But the fact that it took so many hours underscores how precarious this whole mission is.”

MORE: What can still go wrong with Thai cave rescue

The four boys who have been freed so far from the Tham Luang cave where they were trapped for two weeks have been named, as more details emerged of the next stage of the rescue mission.

In comments released by the government, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said for the second stage, divers needed to place more air canisters along the underwater route to where the boys and their coach have been trapped since June 23. He said that process can take several hours.

He said the boys rescued are strong and safe but need to undergo detailed medical checks.

Nattawut ‘Tle’ Takamsai, 11, Monhkhol Boonpiam, 13, Prajak Sutham, 14, and Pipat Bodhi, 15, were taken to safety today, surviving the treacherous journey through flooded underground rivers and arriving safely into the hands of medics, in what has been dubbed a “masterpiece” mission.

But eight of their teammates, and the 25-year-old coach of the Wild Boars football team, remain trapped.

The rescued boys have been taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital via ambulance and helicopter.

They are being put in isolation for 1-2 days, inside a sterilised isolation unit, meaning there will still be no physical contact with their parents as they are medically assessed.

It’s expected there will be two more rescue operations to bring the boys out in groups of four.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop this morning welcomed the “wonderful news” four boys had already been evacuated.

“But the fact that it took so many hours underscores how precarious this whole mission is,” she told the Nine Network.

Ms Bishop revealed a team of six Australian Federal Police divers were an “integral” part of the rescue and were involved in a “daisy chain” of divers helping the boys out of the cave.

“They will obviously learn lessons from this first evacuation and apply those to the next couple of evacuations,” she said.

“I think they will bring the boys out in groups of four so there will be two more groups plus the soccer coach of course.

“It’s highly dangerous, it’s very precarious and our thoughts are not only with the boys but also with the diving and rescue teams that are assisting.”

She said Australian doctor Richard ‘Harry’ Harris was an “essential” part of the rescue.

“We sent the doctor from South Australia who is an anaesthetist and an expert cave diver and his qualifications and experience were certainly in demand,” Ms Bishop said.

“He has a diving support partner with him as well.

“The Australian doctor was in the cave, he was part of the medical assessment to determine that the boys were fit enough to dive and swim to freedom.”

Ms Bishop confirmed Australia would send more assistance to Thailand if asked.

The survival of the others who are still trapped in the cave is far from guaranteed with extraction efforts put on hold, to allow the rescue divers time to resupply.

Photos of the isolation unit have emerged, as parents sleep at the rescue site and continue their nervous wait to be reunited with their boys.

EIGHT TO GO

The remaining eight remain underground. Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said the four who escaped were “safe” but released few details about their condition or identities.

Footage released by authorities showed groups of soldiers carrying what appeared to be two of the boys on stretchers into the back of waiting ambulances which then sped off for a nearby hospital.

The massive and so-far miraculous operation, involving 50 foreign and 40 Thai divers, saw the four children walk unassisted from the sprawling cave complex.

“Today we rescued four children and sent them to hospital,” Osotthanakorn said, tasked with overseeing the mission.

“We saw the children’s faces today — it is the perfect day, the best situation. The operation went much better than expected.”

He said the healthiest have been taken out first, and the next phase of the operation would start in 10-20 hours while equipment was rechecked and oxygen tanks refilled.

“After 16 days of waiting today we finally see the faces of the Wild Boars,” he said.

“Today is the best situation that allow us to carry out the evacuation operation. All of the four boys have been sent to the hospital and all of them are safe.”

HOW THE RESCUE HAS UNFOLDED SO FAR

The entire operation to rescue all 13 could last two to four days, depending on weather and water conditions, said army Major General Chalongchai Chaiyakam.

Just after 9pm last night (12am AEST), Thai navy SEALs posted on their Facebook page again, saying: “Have sweet dreams everyone. Good night. Hooyah.”

Gov. Osotthanakorn had earlier asked the world for its prayers so the 12 boys and their coach could be delivered safely.

“We expected the first child to come out at 9pm (12am AEST) but everything went well, with the first child coming out at 5.40pm (8.40 AEST) and the second child 10 to 20 minutes later,” he said. The second pair of boys followed two hours later.

The remaining eight boys and the soccer coach are either at “chamber 9”, where they have been stranded for much of the past 16 days, or moving forward to new positions in the cave.

Gov. Osotthanakorn said the families of the 12 boys and their soccer coach had given their consent for the operation to begin at 10am (1pm AEST) on Sunday morning.

Local media are reporting that the children and the coach — presuming all emerge safely — will be quarantined for seven days at the main Chiang Rai hospital but family will be permitted to visit.

Ten Thai and international divers were initially dispatched to head directly to “chamber 9”, where the team is waiting, while numerous other Australian, American, Chinese and European divers were sent to cave’s base camp or stationed along the route.

Though many ideas were proposed to get the boys out — from drilling through the mountaintop to devising nylon pods with air tanks — the rescuers went back to Plan A: diving and swimming them on a five-hour journey through tunnels and strong currents.

Australia has sent a team of 19 to support the dangerous rescue mission being lead by Thai authorities.

The group includes six Australian Federal Police divers and more divers from the Australia Defence Force, including Navy.

The divers formed part of the ‘daisy chain’ of rescuers who led four-of-the-12 boys out the cave system to the surface on Sunday.

Richard Harris, a doctor from South Australia and an anaesthetist with diving experience, was part of the medical team that determined the boys’ fitness to undertake the arduous 4km journey.

A Department of Foreign Affairs crisis response team is providing support to the Australians.

Australia stands ready to send more experts to help with the rescue, the federal government says.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has welcomed the rescue of four of the boys.

“It’s highly dangerous, it’s very precarious and our thoughts are not only with the boys but also with the diving and rescue teams that are assisting,” Ms Bishop told Nine today.

The mission’s initial success has raised hopes for those still trapped, but officials say it could take four days to complete the entire rescue.

“Today is D-Day,” Gov. Osotthanakorn said earlier. “Though we have been looking for shafts to go to the place where the children are located, we have not found one. The new monsoon is coming.”

The mission was to pull the boys out in pairs, each accompanied by two divers who will stay at their sides on their treacherous journey.

The expected arrival of torrential rains forced the hand of rescuers, who feared that the water level in the cave — currently at its lowest level since the boys were found last Monday, after intensive pumping — will start rising fast.

Gov. Osotthanakorn said medics — including an Australian doctor who made a final check of the boys — declared them 100 per cent fit for the journey and they were as ready as they ever would be.

“Thirteen specialist foreign divers and five Thai SEAL divers are now going inside the cave to help the boys out,” he said.

“The children said they are ready to come out. They’re ready to join our mission. Family members know the mission, so we are already, physically and mentally.”

Gov. Osotthanakorn said rescuers had rehearsed the extraction with simulated dives. “We have planned the mission, with the duty of each person clear so there is no confusion. We have trained from dawn till dusk. We want you all to wait for the outcome, and please pray and send your encouragement for the mission.”

Each of the boys is being swum by two divers — one at the lead and one at the rear, assisted by oxygen masks and a safety line. Once they get beyond the flooded Sam Yak T-junction, they will be able to walk the remaining three kilometres back to where they first entered the cave.

A stream of ambulances and helicopters are in place to handle any problems, with all but essential staff ordered to depart the staging area as authorities seek to clear the paths in case a fast exit is needed.

At current water levels, it would appear that the soccer team, who are all poor swimmers, would only need to be fully submerged for short distances — after which their diver escorts could swim them with their heads above water most of the way.

All of the boys have been given basic instructions on how to use scuba equipment for the journey, which will be arduous.

The boys and their coach entered the cave system on June 23. They were discovered sitting on a ledge last Monday, all alive and well, though starving and anxious.

The world has been on tenterhooks since, but now the mission appears to running better than anyone had hoped.

It had been planned that four boys would make up the first group, with subsequent groups of three over the next few days. The coach was to be in the last group out.

A possible reason for the decreased rescue time is that water has receded, making some of the cave’s chambers walkable.

The risks of the journey became clear when a retired Thai Navy SEAL diver lost consciousness and died while returning to base camp in the early hours of Friday.

The boys, ages 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach have been trapped for two weeks — since June 23, when they went exploring in northern Thailand’s Tham Luang Nang Non cave after a practice game.

Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days. The only way to reach them was by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air. Getting out via the same route looks like the only feasible option, but a high- risk one, Thai officials say. Experienced cave rescue experts consider an underwater escape a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving, as the boys are.

The path out is considered especially complicated because of twists and turns in narrow flooded passages.</s>The entire boys soccer team and their coach trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand have all been safely rescued

 The 12 boys and their coach got trapped by rising waters after they entered the cave on June 23rd.

 Officials initially said the rescue could take months but dropping oxygen levels and more heavy rains in the forecast forced them to act now.

 19 divers went into the cave this morning to try and bring out the remaining four children and their coach.

 Officials initially said the rescue could take months but dropping oxygen levels and more heavy rains in the forecast forced them to act now.

 Meanwhile, the 12 boys rescued from being trapped in a cave in Thailand are doing well and health officials say they’re in good health and each of them is in a good mental state.

The post Thai Cave Rescue Complete, 12 Boys and Coach Safe appeared first on 850 WFTL.</s>All 12 boys and their football coach trapped for more than two weeks deep inside a flooded Thai cave have been rescued.

"The 12 Wild Boars and coach have emerged from the cave and they are safe," the Thai navy SEAL unit said on its official Facebook page.

The "Wild Boars" soccer team and their coach got trapped on June 23 while exploring the cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai after soccer practice and a rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels.

British divers found the 13, hungry and huddled in darkness on a muddy bank in a partly flooded chamber several kilometres inside the complex, on Monday last week.

After pondering for days how to get the 13 out, a rescue operation was launched on Sunday when four of the boys were brought out, tethered to rescue divers.

Another four were rescued yesterday and the last four boys and the coach were brought out today.

Celebrations will be tinged with sadness over the loss of a former Thai navy diver who died last Friday while on a re-supply mission inside the cave in support of the rescue.</s>Two ambulances seen leaving cave in northern Thailand hours after operation began to rescue trapped youth soccer players

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Two ambulances seen leaving cave in northern Thailand hours after operation began to rescue trapped youth soccer players.</s>AUSTRALIAN doctor Richard Harris is being credited with a genius medical move that helped saved a Thai soccer team trapped in a cave.

Dr Harris, an expert diver from Adelaide, was on a ledge deep within the cave administering a mild sedative to each of the boys as they were rescued, ensuring they would not panic during the swim.

It comes as Dr Harris' dive partner, Dr Craig Challen, has been revealed as the second Australian involved in the rescue mission.

The vet, from West Australia, is one of Australia's leading technical cave divers. He has been diving for more than 20 years.

Meantime, Julie Bishop has praised the "extraordinary efforts" of 20 Australians directly involved in the remarkable rescue of the 12 boys and their soccer coach.

"It is a remarkable outcome, the end of an extraordinary ordeal," she told Channel Seven's Sunrise program this morning.

The Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed all rescue workers involved in the dangerous rescue mission, including the Australians, were safe and well after she contacted Australia's Embassy in Bangkok overnight.

She paid tribute to all involved in the operation and particularly Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who tragically lost his life in the effort to free the boys.

"We do of course recall that one volunteer did die in the course of this incredible process of extracting the boys from the cave, and we feel for his family," she said.

"But there has now been this quite remarkable outcome. The ordeal is over."

Ms Bishop particularly highlighted the efforts of Australian doctor Richard 'Harry' Harris, whose involvement in the rescue mission had been requested "at the highest level within the Thai government".

The 53-year-old anesthetist and cave diving expert from Adelaide played a pivotal role in the rescue, including administering a small sedative to the boys before they exited the cave so they would remain calm on the 1.7km swim to the surface.

He entered the cave before each rescue operation with a Thai medical team and assessed the boys' fitness to make the journey.

"He is an extraordinary Australian and he certainly has made a big difference to the rescue effort here in Thailand in this instance," Ms Bishop told Sunrise.

"I am hoping to speak to the Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai later this morning and I'm sure that he will confirm that Dr Harris was identified by the British diving team and then was requested to be involved at the highest levels within the Thai government."

She added that Dr Harris was "very well known" to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade because he had been one of the doctors involved in medical assistance teams working on natural disasters throughout the Pacific.

Ms Bishop also revealed Dr Harris was assisted by his dive partner, Dr Craig Challen, a vet and cave diving expert from Perth.

Dr Challen, the second Australian involved in the rescue mission to be named, is one of Australia's leading technical cave divers.

He has been diving for more than 20 years.

"Between them and the rest of the Australian team, I believe we were an integral part in the overall rescue," Ms Bishop said.

In a statement this morning, Ms Bishop also praised Thai authorities for outstanding leadership throughout the rescue operation.

"The rescue mission was made possible by a remarkable example of international cooperation," she said.

She said the dangers of the mission were underscored by the tragic death of the former Petty Officer 1st Class Kunan.

"The Australian Government sends its condolences to his family," she said.

All 13 members of the Wild Boar soccer team finally made it to safety in one of the most inspiring rescue missions the world has witnessed atfer an 18-day ordeal.

"We did something nobody thought possible. Today, Thai people, team Thailand, achieved mission impossible," rescue chief, Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn said to applause and cheers, hours after the team - who were soon followed by Australian anaesthetist Richard Harris and four Thai Navy SEALs - emerged securely.

"We are delighted. We have done things we never thought we could do. I'm proud we could complete the mission impossible."

"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 Thai Navy SEALs wrote on their Facebook page. "Everyone is safe."

"I'm happy for Thais all over the country," said Payap Maiming, who helped provide food and necessities to rescue workers.

"And actually just everyone in the world because every news channel has presented this story and this is what we have been waiting for." "It's really a miracle," Payap said. "It's hope and faith that has brought us this success."

Amporn Sriwichai, an aunt of rescued coach Ekkapol Chantawong, was ecstatic.

"If I see him, I just want to hug him and tell him that I missed him very much," she said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier confirmed that the boys had been given calming medicine "so the children won't panic, just like we take anti-allergy so we feel OK and are not excited".

MORE: Why Thai cave boys are in isolation in hospital

MORE: Why Thai cave parents are being kept in the dark

Two of the eight boys who came out over Sunday and Monday were diagnosed with mild pneumonia at Chang Rai hospital, 60km south of the Tham Luang cave system.

The governor said they had been treated with intravenous drips and were responding well.

"We expected them all to have pneumonia, and came up with preventive measures, but most of them haven't got pneumonia," he said.

Governor Osotthanakorn said the last day of the operation had moved even faster than the previous two days, with evacuation times sharply cut as the core diving team became better familiarised with the dangerous route.

They left the strongest team members till last, including coach Ekkapon Chantawongse.

What was days ago a five-hour journey in blackness, through high-water chambers and a risky choke-point tunnel, was cut down to only three hours.

It is understood that the boys were rested and given initial medical attention for several hours at Chamber 3, where the rescuers set up their underground staging camp, before being assisted out of the cave.

Mr Narongsak said that although there had been heavy overnight rain, water levels were holding stable, meaning they were able to speed up the operation of positioning oxygen tanks along the route, and re-tensioning the safety line.

"The team completed their set-up for the mission faster than expected and it got underway at 10am (1pm AEST)," he said.

The rescued boys have been treated for passing fevers, coughing, light wounds and general weakness, with medical experts satisfied the boys have made it through their ordeal largely unscathed.

Families have been able to speak to the quarantined boys behind a glass partition at Chiang Rai hospital, where they will remain for up to seven days until they are given the complete all-clear.

"Because the kids are still young, they are very resilient. They can talk normally, everybody is joyful and very glad to come out," said Dr Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk from the Public Health Ministry.

The expert said the boys had suffered from exposure to water and cold over their long stay underground, but were in surprisingly good condition.

"They're hungry a lot and want to eat a variety of food, but at this stage we're given food that is easily digested and bland. They can sit up and eat, but there are no worrying conditions.

"They asked for bread with chocolate, which we think is OK."

The boys have told the rescuers that there were no animals such as bats in the cave so the medical experts feel certain there is no biological cross-contamination.

"We have to wait for microbiological results from the lab," said Dr Jedsada. "They're immune systems are weakened so it's best they stay in hospital."

The doctor said the boys will be able to watch the World Cup in quarantine - but as to news about their rescue, the psychologists don't want them to watch any coverage until the team was fully reunited in hospital.

The governor paid tribute to Saman Kunan, the former Thai Navy SEAL who died in the rescue. He called him "a real hero".

World leaders and sports stars joined the global outpouring of relief and congratulations at the incredible rescue of the boys.

US President Donald Trump was among the first to congratulate the Thai Navy SEALs who spearheaded the mammoth international rescue effort at the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand.

"On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand," Mr Trump tweeted. "Such a beautiful moment - all freed, great job!"

"Delighted to see the successful rescue of those trapped in the caves in Thailand. The world was watching and will be saluting the bravery of all those involved," added British Prime Minister Theresa May on Twitter.

What wonderful news from #Thailand! So much to admire: the perseverance of the brave boys and their coach, the skill and determination of the rescuers," tweeted Steffen Seibert, German chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said he was "Relieved with the happy outcome" of the cave rescue.

"Congratulations to the brave rescuers, including several Belgian divers," he tweeted.

"Thoughts also go out to the Thai Navy Seal who gave his life in this rescue operation," he added.

Former Thai navy diver Saman Kunan died on Friday when he ran out of oxygen while returning from the chamber where the boys were trapped.

Tech guru Elon Musk, who visited the cave and offered the use of a prototype minisub made from rocket parts, said: "Great news that they made it out safely. Congratulations to an outstanding rescue team!"

In the end, the sub was not needed and Musk earlier said he would leave it "here in case it may be useful in the future".

"Youjuuuu!," exclaimed Chilean miner Mario Sepulveda, who was among 33 miners trapped down a mine for 69 days in 2010.

"I feel a lot a lot of emotion. What can I say? I hope these kids will be very successful," he told AFP.

It comes as a host of soccer stars added their congratulations to the global jubilation.

Football's governing body FIFA, who had invited the boys to the World Cup final on Sunday, also welcomed the rescue but said the boys were too weak to attend the game in Moscow.

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino had invited the boys' Wild Boars soccer team to the final "as our guests" last week.

But FIFA said it had been informed "that due to medical reasons, the boys will not be in a position to travel to Moscow".

"FIFA's priority remains the health of everyone involved in the operation and we will look into finding a new opportunity to invite the boys to a FIFA event to share with them a moment of communion and celebration," a spokesman said.

Manchester United also invited the Wild Boars, as well as those involved in the rescue, to travel to England and visit the club.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected. We would love to welcome the team from Wild Boars Football Club and their rescuers to Old Trafford this coming season," the club said in tweet.

"Amazing news that all of the Thai kids are out of the cave safely! I'd like to send out shirts to them," England and Manchester City defender Kyle Walker also tweeted.

German football stars Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil also celebrated the rescue, with both describing it on Twitter as "great news".

Audiences around the world have cheered the rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a cave in Thailand with messages of support as the saga generated suggestions of help, prayers and - finally - expressions of relief.

People turned to television, news sites and social media to keep up with the fate of the Wild Boar soccer team that went missing while exploring the cave in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand on June 23.

A Google search on Tuesday for the words "Thai cave rescue" revealed 359,000,000 results, with interest peaking since last week when British divers found the boys and the rescue mission began.

"Miracles may happen every day but this is one for the ages," said Cornell Brooks, chief executive of the NAACP civil rights group in the United States.

With international journalists stationed outside the cave, television stations have carried updates and the story has ranked highly in terms of the most read or viewed items on sites such as Britain's BBC and NBC News. On social media, live Facebook videos from the reporters and volunteers on the ground have been popular.

On Twitter and Instagram, wellwishers sent messages of support, advice and sketches of the boys in the cave using hashtags such as #Thaicaverescue #boarteam #Thainavyseals #PrayForThaiBoys and #Bringtheboarteambackhome. A Thai navy SEAL Facebook post confirming all 13 had been rescued on Tuesday had more than 200,000 likes and around 56,000 shares in the space of an hour, sparking comments such as: "You are ALL HEROES! Thank you on behalf of a grateful world!" and "On behalf of all mothers I thank you". On Twitter there were 160,000 tweets containing "All 12".

Students fixated on the gripping rescue mission refrained from playing soccer while the rescue mission was under way.

The Bangkok Post reported emotional students have not been down to the Mae Sai Football Club, instead praying for the safe return of their classmates.

Fourteen-year-old Puwadech "Bank" Kumngoen and Kittichoke "Tong" Konkaew said no one had felt like practising since the 12 boys vanished, according to the Bangkok Post.

"Of course I want to play. I want to race down the pitch as soon as I can," Pwadech told the Bangkok Post.

"This is World Cup time and I've been studying my favourite players to learn their techniques.

"But I'm going to wait because I want to try those tricks on a real pitch with my friends."

Kittichoke said he hoped to watch the World Cup final with the 12 boys, and that waiting for updates during their time trapped in the Tham Luang cave had been a draining experience.

Puwadech said he was ecstatic when he heard the first four boys were alive and well after being rescued from the waterlogged cave.

"I ran down from upstairs and jumped when the operation commander announced on TV that four of my friends had made it out safely. My whole family was so happy and we believe everyone will be okay," Puwadech told the Bangkok Post.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop spoke about the "critical" role Australians had played in the rescue.

She said Adelaide doctor Richard "Harry" Harris was crucial in determining whether the boys and their soccer coach were fit to make the 1.7km dive to the surface.

She spoke of the "19 Australian personnel directly involved" in the "high risk" operation.

Ms Bishop highlighted that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had visited the site and specifically thanked the Australian personnel involved in the rescue.

"He expressed the deep appreciation of the Thai people for the work that the Australian team had undertaken," she said.

"We wish all of the rescue teams the very best and our thoughts are with the boys, their parents and families and the rescue teams that are working tirelessly to achieve what will be a remarkable outcome if all of the boys are able to be rescued from the cave safely."
Divers in Thailand rescue the remaining four boys and their coach from the Tham Luang Nang Non cave.