An atmosphere of gloom hung over the site of the Tham Luang caves in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai province on Friday as rainclouds rolled in and news broke of the tragic death of one of the rescue divers trying to save 12 young boys and their football coach who remain stranded inside. The death of Saman Kunan, 38, a volunteer and former Thai Navy Seal, came as a cruel jolt to the tireless efforts of divers, engineers and caving experts who have been working furiously to extract the children aged 11-16, and their coach, 25, since they were found sheltering in a muddy chamber on Monday. Petty Officer Kunan died on his way out of the cave complex where he had been delivering air tanks to different locations along the treacherous submerged route that leads to the chamber some 2.5 miles from the main exit. “His job was to deliver oxygen. He did not have enough on his way back,” confirmed Passakorn Boonyalak, Chiang Rai’s deputy governor.<doc-sep>A DIVER died yesterday trying to help the young footballers trapped in a Thai cave – and with him died hopes of an easy rescue for the 12 boys and their coach. Former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, 37, ran out of oxygen as he returned from delivering air tanks to the flooded cave where the team has now been stranded for two weeks. 13 Our graphic shows the most perilous section of the path to freedom the boys and coach may be forced to take over the next few days Officials initially planned to continue delivering supplies to the trapped team for up to four months, until waters dropped sufficiently for them to walk out. But the death of experienced diver Saman, coupled with news that oxygen levels are down to 15 per cent and decreasing in the cave — where the normal level is 21 per cent — has forced the realisation that time is running out. Thai Navy SEAL commander Apakorn Yookongkaew said: “At first we thought we could stay for a long time. Now things have changed. We have a limited time.” Ominously, Navy SEALs also confirmed that getting more oxygen piped in is a top priority. 13 The last photo of former Thai Navy SEAL, Saman Kunan, 38, who died while helping in the rescue of twelve Thai children and their adult coach The rescue effort comes as the coach trapped alongside the boys has said sorry to their parents. In the first letter he and the team have sent out through divers the 25-year-old coach said: “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.” It is clear that the mission is a race against the elements. Thailand’s monsoon season runs from July to October and, while the past few days have been relatively dry, the long-term forecast is rain for months — and experts say it could start today. If the rescue is to happen before serious rains hit and seal the lads in, it must happen soon. 13 Falling oxygen levels and rising flood waters have made rescuers realise they may need to move as early as today in an attempt to save the boys and their coach One diver, who would not give his name, confirmed to The Sun that a rescue attempt is planned for today if it rains, despite the deadly danger of the swim, as illustrated by Saman’s death. He said: “Some of the guys have been practising at a nearby pond with local children. “The people in charge have told us to get ready to get them out. “We’re being put under a lot of pressure to move sooner rather than later.” The Wild Boars team, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach have been stuck inside the dead quiet of flooded Tham Luang cavern since June 23. 13 The body of Saman Kunan, a former Thai navy SEAL who died attempting to help the trapped team, is carried during a repatriation and religious rites ceremony at Chiang Rai Airport Credit: AP:Associated Press British cave divers, led by finance broker Vernon Unsworth, 63, who lives locally, discovered the group on a ledge on Monday evening, nine days after they went missing after football practice. The team entered the caves during fine weather but quickly got stuck when a sudden downpour flooded the tunnels. It is believed the team survived by eating huge freshwater snails and drinking dirty water. And since they were discovered alive, all hell has broken loose around the sacred forest caves. 13 Divers plunge into the dark waters of the flooded cave in Thailand, but now with renewed urgency Credit: Alamy Live News Soldiers, police and navy rescue divers vie for space with the world’s media in a muddy makeshift camp. Food, foil blankets, life jackets and medicine have already been taken into the boys, with plans to lay a fibre-optic cable so they can soon speak to their parents. Work has also begun to try to run an oxygen line into the complex, while pumps gush water from the cave down into streams which flood the paddy fields at the foot of stunning Khun Nam Nang Non mountain. 12 Thai footballers trapped with their coach in a cave receive medical treatment amid rescue efforts to reduce flow of water Sadly, one group of volunteers accidentally directed pumped water back into the caves rather than away from them, it emerged yesterday. But even without this blunder, more and more water is frustrating the attempts of rescuers who hope to pump out enough water for the boys to walk, wade and swim their way out of the underground trap. Governor of Chiang Rai province Narongsak Osatanakorn said: “We’re trying to pump water out, but more and more is coming in from above and below. 13 A pig’s head was brought to the cave this week as a sacrifice to keep the children safe “Our biggest concern is now the weather.” With 13 lives at the mercy of the elements, it is little wonder that local people have turned to superstition to help. A pig’s head was brought to the cave this week as a sacrifice to keep the children safe. Lucky garlands made from banana leaves were also left at the entrance. Thai journalist Peeranuch Sirayanuwatthanakun, 29, said: “We believe that to prevent rain a virgin must be sent out to plant lemongrass in the ground. “It has to be someone pure, otherwise it won’t work. It’s very likely the boys’ families have been doing this to keep them safe. 13 Divers prepare to take in supplies of oxygen “Thai people also believe that the number 13 is unlucky — and there are 13 of them down there.” The mood in the makeshift camp has swung along with the boy’s changing fortunes since they were trapped, and the unexpected death of Saman has been a terrible blow to hopes. The keen sportsman ran out of oxygen as he returned through the tunnels at 2am local time on Friday morning. He was brought out by his dive partner but could not be revived. Saman had retired from the navy to work in airport security but returned to help save the boys. 13 Currently, the first 980ft of the cave network is dry, and the next 3,900ft can be reached on foot thanks to the 14 pumps that have removed 128million litres of water Credit: Getty - Contributor Police sergeant Soon-torn Kasatae, 38, told The Sun: “We’re so sad he didn’t make it. “We knew that it’s not going to be easy to get the boys home but this makes me worry even more.” Currently, the first 980ft of the cave network is dry, and the next 3,900ft can be reached on foot thanks to the 14 pumps that have removed 128million litres of water. 13 Pumps have had some success clearing sections of the cave, but expected heavy rain could seal the boys and coach in until October if they are not freed in time Credit: EPA But the last labyrinthine stretch leading to the boys’ rock shelf is still blocked by narrow flooded tunnels. Expected heavy rain could seal them in until October if they are not freed in time. The quickest option — which may go ahead today if the rains begin — is a dangerous scuba dive through the flooded tunnels, a tall ask for boys who cannot swim and are already weak and scared. Navy divers are with the boys training them to use scuba gear. 13 Family members sit in tent near the cave entrance, waiting for news of their children and the coach Credit: AP:Associated Press But having them exit through the water is considered the most risky option by some experts. It takes even the most experienced divers five hours to get through the pitch-black, twisting tunnels — with some passages just 3ft wide and involving climbs over boulders several storeys high.<doc-sep>A former Thai navy SEAL died early Friday morning trying to free a stranded soccer team from a cave in Thailand. Former Sgt. Saman Kunan, who was working as a volunteer alongside rescuers, died between 1 and 2 a.m. Friday local time. SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said Kunan died placing oxygen canisters underwater along the route to the stranded boys. The Evening Standard notes this is the current method for replenishing air supply in the cave, where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23. Kunan passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed. A Facebook profile remembering Kunan, 38, shows images of a fit man with an adventurous spirit — bicycling and racing, clad in athletic gear. After retiring as a navy SEAL, Kunan became a triathlete and worked as an airport security officer, according to The Standard. Thai soldiers and police officers paid respected to Kunan, as his coffin was loaded onto a Thai Navy plane at Chiang Rai International Airport in Chiang Rai on Friday. Officials said the diver would be given royally-sponsored funeral rites including a military funeral at the Satthahip Navy Base in Pattaya, and then in his hometown in the northern Thailand province of Roi Et. The navy is also seeking permission to posthumously promote Saman, who was a petty officer first class when he left the unit, Channel News Asia reports. "Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission," Apakorn said. Thai authorities are racing to replenish oxygen in the cave, which is dipping to dangerously low levels because of the large number of rescue workers inside, Chiang Rai Gov. Narongsak Ossotthanakor said. They are also working to pump out water from the flooded cave, especially as more rain is forecasted for the region. More:Thai navy SEAL commander: 'Limited amount of time' left to rescue trapped soccer team More:An illustrated look at the Thai cave rescue More:Former Rescuer: Thai Cave Rescue Could be Fatal Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets<doc-sep>
Saman Kunan, a former Thai navy Seal, is being honored for losing his life in a heroic effort to rescue a football team stuck in a cave in Thailand since last month. Kunan, who was 38, died around 1 a.m. Friday after sending air tanks to the trapped boys to replenish their air supply. He lost consciousness while returning from a chamber in the cave, Seal commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said in a news conference, according to The Evening Standard. Kunan's diving buddy was unable to resuscitate him, and he was pronounced dead shortly after. It is possible Kunan died because he ran out of oxygen trying to get to a command center about 1.2 miles inside the flooded cave. A former sergeant, Kunan worked as an airport security officer and was also a triathlete. A Facebook page created in his memory shows he was involved in bicycling and races. Kunan posed in a photo with the caption, "Anniversary 50 years The North Face," and in others was pictured hiking. Kunan participated in several daylong races, 40 adventure races and 10 sprints, a screenshot from a couple years ago shows. “fellow trail runner and former Thai Navy SEAL, Saman Kunan, passed away this morning while in Chiang Rai helping the rescue efforts at #Thamluangcave” ☹️ . . Run In Paradise good sir! pic.twitter.com/xjEJ7X2ptJ — JAG Lanante (@JAGLanante) July 6, 2018 Kunan was volunteering to help rescue a dozen boys ages 11 to 16 and their 25-year-old coach who have been stranded in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the Chiang Rai province since June 23. Kunan's body was carried in a coffin by military guards led by a Thai Buddhist monk during a repatriation ceremony at the Mae Fah Luang international airport in the Chiang Rai province. His body was flown to his hometown in the Roi Et province, as army members gave a salute. Thai navy Seals paid tribute to Kunan on Friday. In a statement, they called him a "skilled and talented Seal and a triathlon athlete." "Even after he departed the Seal unit, he still kept in touch and maintained a tie with the rest of his former colleagues. He always participated in the Seal activities until the last step of his life," the statement read. "Saman left us while working as a diver and in a time where all divers joining forces to complete the mission. His effort and determination will always remain the hearts of all divers." "May you rest in peace and we will accomplish this mission as you had wished," it said.