Official heading Thai cave rescue operation says the prime minister has gone to see all eight of the rescued boys

MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Official heading Thai cave rescue operation says the prime minister has gone to see all eight of the rescued boys.</s>CHIANG RAI — An amateur footage shows the dramatic moment when two of the 12 young footballers trapped in Tham Luang were brought to an army helicopter.

The video, posted by a Facebook page called Big Krean, is said to show the medevac which eventually took them to a hospital in Chiang Rai City.</s>BANGKOK (Reuters) - Honking car horns and live “selfie” videos - this is how some Thais in the northern city of Chiang Rai and beyond celebrated on Tuesday after all 12 boys and their soccer coach had been safely rescued from a labyrinthine cave complex.

The dramatic rescue marks the end of a more than two-week ordeal which began when the “Wild Boars” team and their coach became trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave on the border with Myanmar on June 23.

Two British divers found the 13 last Monday but the search and rescue operation has largely been driven by Thailand’s elite navy SEAL unit.

“This is an important event in my life. It is something I will remember,” said a visibly emotional Rachapol Ngamgrabuan, an official at Chiang Rai’s provincial press office.

“There were times when I cried,” he added. “Happy. Very happy to see all Thai people love each other.”

Thais have been glued to their televisions, mobile phones and computer screens following every twist and turn of the boys’ story, as have many people overseas.

Thais turned to social media on Tuesday to show their elation using the hashtag #Hooyah, a word used by the navy to build morale. Other hashtags included #Heroes and #Thankyou.

“You are our heroes!” wrote some, captioning cartoons showing the boys and their coach with dozens of rescue workers, volunteers and military personnel.

On Monday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would host a celebration for all of those involved in the multinational rescue effort.

“We will host a meal for all sides,” said Prayuth.

Top Thai retailers including Central Group and The Mall Group also chimed in to show their support.

“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 navy SEAL unit wrote on its official page moments after the rescue.

Britain’s Manchester United football club said on its official Twitter page that it was relieved to learn that the 13 were safe and extended an invitation for the group and their rescuers to visit its Old Trafford stadium.</s>Rescuers in Thailand on Monday freed four more members of the boys soccer team stranded in a flooded cave complex, as part of the second phase of a desperate rescue operation that aims to save four more kids and the team's coach before heavy rains imperil the effort.

Four ambulances with flashing lights were spotted leaving the area as Thai navy SEALs said on Facebook that four boys were brought out of the cave on Monday, bringing the total to eight rescued so far before rescue operations were suspended for the day.

One helicopter carried the sixth and seventh boys to be rescued to a hospital, while the eighth boy was being transported on another helicopter for medical treatment.

The newest set of rescues came about six hours after Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn said the second phase was underway.

"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."

On Sunday, Thai navy SEALs successfully retrieved four members of the youth soccer team from the cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks in the first rescue operation.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said early Monday 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 said fresh air tanks needed to be laid along the underwater route.

'DON'T BLAME YOURSELF,' PARENT OF TRAPPED THAI YOUTH WRITES TO BOYS' COACH

Reuters, citing an unnamed source at a nearby hospital, reported the boys’ conditions were “not bad” but will continue to be monitored.

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

It was not immediately clear Monday how the overnight rains had impacted water levels inside the flooded cave. Officials have said storms forecast for Chiang Rai province in Thailand's far north had factored into their decision to go ahead with a complicated and dangerous plan to have the boys and their coach dive out of the cave. If everything goes to according to plan, the operation should be completed on Tuesday, officials previously told The Wall Street Journal.

DR. MARC SIEGEL: BOYS RESCUED FROM THAI CAVE NOW FACE POSSIBLE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Narongsak previously said experts told him flooding from new rain could shrink the unflooded space where the boys are sheltering to just 108 square feet.

"I confirm that we are at war with water and time from the first day up to today," he said. "Finding the boys doesn't mean we've finished our mission. It is only a small battle we've won, but the war has not ended. The war ends when we win all three battles — the battles to search, rescue and send them home."

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, a necessary task in order for divers to safely travel the five- to six-hour route.

Authorities spent hours replenishing air tanks along the cave's treacherous exit route. The rescue of the remaining boys and their soccer coach could take up to four days.

Trips from the entrance to where the team is trapped and back to the entrance take about 11 hours and include walking, wading, climbing and diving, the BBC reported. There is reportedly a guide rope in place. Two divers will accompany each boy as they are gradually extracted.

An international team of expert divers—90 in all, 40 from Thailand and 50 from overseas—have been working in the area.

About 40 U.S. Air Force special operations personnel -- including an 18-person personnel recovery team -- were on the ground in Thailand at two locations, a U.S. defense official told Fox News.

The stranded boys, members of the Wild Boars soccer team, have been invited to the World Cup Final in Moscow if they make it out in time and can physically handle the trip.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News' Jeff Paul and Melissa Chrise in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and The Associated Press contributed to this report</s>CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - The first eight boys rescued from a Thai cave complex are in good health overall and some asked for chocolate bread for breakfast, officials said on Tuesday as rescuers began a third and more challenging final mission to free the remaining five.

“At this moment (there are) no worrisome conditions, everyone is safe,” Jesada Chokdamrongsuk, Thailand’s health ministry permanent secretary, told reporters.

Two of the boys had suspected lung infections but the four boys from the first group rescued were all walking around their hospital beds.

“The kids are footballers, are strong and have high immunity,” Jesada said when asked why they survived so long.

The boys had a good appetite but were mainly being given bland, easily digestible foods. However, doctors later relented after some of the boys asked for bread with chocolate topping.

They are still being quarantined from their parents because of the risk of infection and would likely be kept in hospital for a week to undergo tests, officials said.

Four more of the boys were carried on stretchers out of the labyrinthine Tham Luang cave on the Myanmar border at dusk on Monday, bringing to eight the number brought out so far after two rescue pushes on successive days.

The head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said a final operation would be “more challenging” because one more survivor would be brought out than the previous two operations, along with three Navy SEALs who have been accompanying them.

The rescuers have been learning from experience and were two hours faster in bringing the second batch of survivors out on Monday. However, scattered monsoon rains continued to risk percolating through the limestone cave walls to flood the tunnels with water.

“I hope today we will be faster or the same speed as yesterday,” Narongsak said.

A crack team of foreign divers and Thai Navy SEALS guided the boys during a nine-hour operation through nearly 4 km (2.5 miles) of sometimes submerged, pitch-dark channels from where they have been trapped for more than a fortnight.

People across Thailand cheered the rescue operation, including at the Mae Sai Prasitsart school where six of the trapped boys are students.

“I am very happy about those who already made it out and I think everyone will be out today,” said Waranchit Karnkaew, 14, who also said the football-mad boys had been closely following games at the World Cup in Russia before they were trapped.

“I want to take my friends to lunch and we will play football together,” he told Reuters.

Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, has invited the boys to the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday. This seems less likely now given the need for the boys to undergo further tests.

The plight of the boys and their coach has drawn international attention since they became trapped when they went into the cave after soccer practice on June 23.

Divers, engineers, medics and others have flown in from around the world to assist.

Technology billionaire Elon Musk went into the cave on Monday and left the rescue team with a “kid-sized” submarine his company SpaceX had built, Thailand’s interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said.

Musk said on Twitter: “Just returned from Cave 3. Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids’ soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the future.”

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the cave to inspect the operation and was quoted by Narongsak as saying he didn’t want to see this kind of incident happen again on Thai soil.</s>A commercial diver with more than 35 years experience’ says that the ongoing efforts to rescue a team of soccer players in Thailand are unimaginably difficult and intimidating.

Mike Roberts, owner of Divetech Limited in Goodwood, N.S., says that he can’t imagine the long, narrow path to reach the eight children and one adult who remain in the cave.

“They’ve got cave divers who are having to take the cylinder off of their back and slide the cylinder through first, before they can squirm through, and they’ve literally got the ceiling touching the back of their head and the floor touching their chest,” Roberts said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day it was announced that four of the team members had been successfully rescued from the flooded Tham Luang cave.

The group — some of whom are weak swimmers and as young as 11 — have been trapped underground for more than two weeks.

Roberts says that strong currents in the cave are only part of the challenges that the rescuers — 13 international and five Thai divers — face as they make their way through the cave system.

“Zero visibility,” he said, noting one of those challenges. “So these guys can’t see out anything; everything’s done by feel.”

Keeping panic at bay is a challenge that Andrew Munoz, a paramedic in British Columbia, can relate to.

Munoz and a friend were trapped for 24 hours while exploring caves on Vancouver Island in 2015.

He said that before their rescue, Andrew Munoz considered making a final recording on his helmet camera.

“At what point do I make a last will and testament?” said Munoz. “When do I start saying those messages that I’m afraid I’m never going to get to say to my daughter and my family?”

First members of Thai soccer team emerge from cave, taken to hospital First members of Thai soccer team emerge from cave, taken to hospital Thailand official says they’re seeing members of soccer team ‘in the flesh’ as 4 rescued so far Hospital readies for arrival of Thai boys trapped in cave as rescue underway Ambulance arrives at hospital as first of two of Thai soccer team rescued from cave Ambulances, helicopters seen leaving Thailand cave area as rescue of boys continues ‘It’s D-Day’: Officials say rescue underway to extract Thai boys from cave

For the rescue efforts in Thailand, full face masks — rather than traditional equipment — are being installed on the children.

Roberts says that the full face masks will make sure they cannot become disconnected.

The large masks will also include earphones and a microphone, allowing the boys and their rescuers to communicate.

“You tell the kids, ‘you just gotta breathe and do as you’re told,'” Roberts said.

— With files from Reuters and the Canadian Press</s>CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - An eleventh person was rescued on Tuesday from a flooded Thai cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped for more than two weeks, raising hopes all 13 would be out by the end of the day.

A Reuters witness saw three people being carried out of the Tham Luang cave on stretchers separately on Tuesday, the third day of the rescue operation.

Eight of the boys were brought out on stretchers over the first two days - four on Sunday and four on Monday.

Officials were not immediately available to comment on who had been brought out, and it was not clear what condition they were in. A person with knowledge of the rescue said just before the eleventh person was spotted, that 10 people had been brought out.

The head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said earlier the final operation would be “more challenging” because one more survivor would be brought out, along with three Navy SEALs who have been accompanying them.

The rescuers have been learning from experience and were two hours faster in bringing the second batch of survivors out on Monday.

However, scattered monsoon rains continued to risk percolating through the limestone cave walls to flood the tunnels with fast-flowing water.

“I hope today we will be faster or the same speed as yesterday,” Narongsak said.

A crack team of foreign divers and Thai Navy SEALS has been guiding the boys out through nearly 4 km (2.5 miles) of sometimes submerged, pitch-dark channels.

The “Wild Boars” soccer team and their coach got trapped on June 23 when they set out to explore the vast cave complex after soccer practice, when a rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels.

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

The eight boys brought out on Sunday and Monday were in good health overall and some asked for chocolate bread for breakfast, officials said.

Two of the boys had suspected lung infections but the four boys from the first group rescued were all walking around their hospital beds.

They are still being quarantined from their parents because of the risk of infection and would likely be kept in hospital for a week to undergo tests, officials said.

Four more of the boys were carried on stretchers out of the labyrinthine Tham Luang cave on the Myanmar border at dusk on Monday, bringing to eight the number brought out after two rescue pushes on successive days.

People across Thailand, and the world, have cheered the rescue operation, including at the Mae Sai Prasitsart school where six of the trapped boys are students.

Technology billionaire Elon Musk went into the cave on Monday and left the rescue team with a “kid-sized” submarine his company SpaceX had built, Thailand’s interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said.

Musk said on Twitter: “Just returned from Cave 3. Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids’ soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the future.”</s>The operation has begun to rescue 12 boys and their football coach who will need to dive out of the flooded Thai cave where they have been trapped for more than two weeks.

The operation has begun to rescue 12 boys and their football coach who will need to dive out of the flooded Thai cave where they have been trapped for more than two weeks.

Operation to rescue boys from Thailand cave under way

The acting Chiang Rai governor told reporters “today is D-Day” with 13 foreigner and five Thai divers taking part in the rescue.

The operation began at 10am local time(4am BST) and he said it would take at least 11 hours for the first person to be rescued.

The only way to bring them out of Tham Luang Nang Non in Chiang Rai province is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air.

A former Thai navy SEAL passed out making the dive on Friday and died.

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.

But the governor supervising the mission said earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that will not last if it rains again.

Before announcing that the rescue was under way, authorities ordered the throngs of media that have gathered at the cave from around the world to leave.

The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring in the cave after a practice game June 23.

Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.

Authorities had said that incoming monsoon rains that could send water levels in the cave rising, coupled with falling oxygen levels in the enclosed space, added to the urgency of getting those trapped out.

Earlier efforts to pump out water from the cave have been set back every time there has been a heavy downpour.

Mr Narongsak said on Saturday that experts told him water from new rain could shrink the unflooded space where the boys are sheltering to just 10 sq m (108 sq ft).

“I confirm that we are at war with water and time from the first day up to today,” he said on Saturday.

“Finding the boys doesn’t mean we’ve finished our mission. It is only a small battle we’ve won, but the war has not ended. The war ends when we win all three battles — the battles to search, rescue and send them home.”

The boys sounded calm and reassuring in handwritten notes to their families that were made public on Saturday.

The notes were sent out with divers who made an 11-hour, back-and-forth journey to act as postmen.

One of the boys, identified as Tun, wrote: “Mum and Dad, please don’t worry, I am fine. I’ve told Yod to get ready to take me out for fried chicken. With love.”

“Don’t be worried, I miss everyone. Grandpa, Uncle, Mum, Dad and siblings, I love you all. I’m happy being here inside, the navy Seals have taken good care. Love you all,” wrote Mick.

The most touching note came from one whose name was not clear: “I’m doing fine, but the air is a little cold, but don’t worry. Although, don’t forget to set up my birthday party.”

Another asked their teacher not to give them a lot of homework.

In a letter of his own, the coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, apologised to the boys’ parents for the ordeal.

“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,” he wrote.

An update on Saturday from the Thai navy said three navy Seals were with the boys and their coach, one a doctor.

The 13 were having health evaluations and rehabilitation, and were being taught diving skills. Food, electrolyte drinks, drinking water, medicine and oxygen canisters have been delivered to them.

A major concern of the rescuers is that oxygen levels in their safe space could fall dangerously low.

Rescuers have been unable to extend a hose pumping oxygen all the way to where the boys are, but have brought them some oxygen tanks.</s>MAE SAI, Thailand - Rescuers in northern Thailand on Sunday extracted at least four members of a youth soccer team from the cave where they had been trapped for more than two weeks, part of an ongoing operation to rescue the 12 boys and their coach, officials said.

The operation to rescue the boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach by having them dive out of the flooded cave began Sunday morning, with expert divers entering the sprawling complex for the complicated and dangerous mission.

Shortly before 8 p.m., the Thai navy SEALs reported on their official Facebook page that four had been rescued.

Helicopters and several ambulances were seen departing from the cave area, though there was no official announcement of whom they were carrying. Officials had said earlier that helicopters were on standby to take anyone rescued from Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province to a hospital.

Chiang Rai acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn, who is heading the operation, said that 13 foreign and five Thai divers were taking part in the rescue and that two divers would accompany each boy as they're gradually extracted.

"Divers will work with doctors in the cave to examine each the kids' health to determine who should get to come out first," Narongsak said Sunday morning.

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

The only way to bring the boys and their coach out of the cave is by navigating dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, as well as oxygen-depleted air. A former Thai navy SEAL passed out and died making the dive Friday.

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.

But Narongsak said earlier that mild weather and falling water levels over the last few days had created optimal conditions for an underwater evacuation that won't last if it rains again.

Before announcing that the rescue was underway, authorities ordered the throngs of media that have gathered at the cave from around the world to leave.

The boys and their coach became stranded when they went exploring in the cave after a practice game June 23. Monsoon flooding cut off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.

The ordeal has riveted Thailand and made global headlines, and the search and rescue operation has involved international experts and rescuers.

President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Sunday: "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!"

Authorities had said that incoming monsoon rains that could send water levels in the cave rising, coupled with falling oxygen levels in the enclosed space, added to the urgency of getting those trapped out. Earlier efforts to pump out water from the cave have been set back every time there has been a heavy downpour.

Narongsak said Saturday that experts told him water from new rain could shrink the unflooded space where the boys are sheltering to just 10 square meters (108 square feet).

"I confirm that we are at war with water and time from the first day up to today," he said Saturday. "Finding the boys doesn't mean we've finished our mission. It is only a small battle we've won, but the war has not ended. The war ends when we win all three battles — the battles to search, rescue and send them home."

The boys sounded calm and reassuring in handwritten notes to their families that were made public Saturday. The notes were sent out with divers who made an 11-hour, back-and-forth journey to act as postmen.

One of the boys, identified as Tun, wrote: "Mom and Dad, please don't worry, I am fine. I've told Yod to get ready to take me out for fried chicken. With love."

"Don't be worried, I miss everyone. Grandpa, Uncle, Mom, Dad and siblings, I love you all. I'm happy being here inside, the navy SEALS have taken good care. Love you all," wrote Mick.

"Night loves Dad and Mom and brother, don't worry about me. Night loves you all," wrote Night, in the Thai manner of referring to one's self in the third person.

The most touching note came from one whose name was not clear: "I'm doing fine, but the air is a little cold, but don't worry. Although, don't forget to set up my birthday party."

Another, of indistinct origin, asked their teacher not to give them a lot of homework.

In a letter of his own, the coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, apologized to the boys' parents for the ordeal.

"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 apologize to the parents," he wrote.

An update Saturday from the Thai navy said three navy SEALs were with the boys and their coach, one a doctor. The 13 were having health evaluations and rehabilitation, and were being taught diving skills. Food, electrolyte drinks, drinking water, medicine and oxygen canisters have been delivered to them. A major concern of the rescuers is that oxygen levels in their safe space could fall dangerously low.

Rescuers have been unable to extend a hose pumping oxygen all the way to where the boys are, but have brought them some oxygen tanks.

Stick with us right here for the latest on the rescue mission. We will post updates as soon as they become available.

More on this story, here.</s>Twelve members of the soccer team and coach all emerge alive after several harrowing weeks of being trapped in flooded underground cave

According to breaking news from ABC, the last of the children trapped in a Thai cave and their coach were all successfully retrieved alive around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 local time. The soccer team had been exploring after football practice, and all 12 boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became trapped when a sudden monsoon flooded the cave entrance, leaving them trapped on a muddy ledge. British divers found them nine days later, more than 4 km inside the cave network huddled in complete darkness.

The rescue mission pulled in teams from around the world. It quickly became apparent that the only way to bring the trapped team members and their coach out was to teach them to scuba dive. Most of the children did not know how to swim and none had scuba experience. Cave diving is regarded as the most dangerous type of diving experience, and many feared the worst as rescue plans continued.

Sgt. Major Saman Gunan, a 38-year-old retired Thai Navy SEAL, was coming back from delivering crucial oxygen tanks inside the cave when he passed out underwater Friday morning and could not be revived. Gunan was the only casualty of the operation and is being hailed as a hero, according to ABC News.

Boys began coming out of the cave Sunday, and more were liberated on Monday. Meantime, in the U.S., American tech entrepreneur Elon Musk had teams of engineers rapidly designing and assembling a child-sized submarine to aid in the rescue. Musk flew his invention to Thailand and entered one of the caves to test it in case it was needed, but the last few children were retrieved safely by Thai Navy SEALs just hours after he landed. Musk posted a short video of his invention in Instagram.

According to Stuff NZ, the unsung heroes of the rescue are the roughly 60 volunteers from local villages who came in every day to help drain water from the cave system. Local village leader Niwag Thamrongtatsanai said everyone in his community was trying to help in any way they could.

A volunteer from Bangkok, 53-year -old Thawatchai, fell eight meters while laying water pipes near the mountaintop and injured his ribs, but refused medical care, saying even as he clutched at his left side.

According to Straight Times, doctors earlier on Tuesday said the eight already-rescued boys had no fever or serious ailments, but they expect the final boys who were rescued to have potential lung infections or eye problems. However, all boys are expected to recover fully.
Divers in Thailand rescue four more boys from the cave Tham Luang Nang Non bringing the total to eight rescued.