A twelfth 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, a Reuters witness said, apparently leaving just one more to be brought out to safety.
The 12 boys, aged 11-16, and their coach, 25, are part of Wild Boars Football Club in Thailand. The eight boys brought out on Sunday and Monday are in good health overall, though two are suffering from pneumonia, according to hospital staff cited by AP.
The youngsters and their coach had been stuck in the cave since 23 June, after rising water levels trapped within the Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai.
Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, Inspector General of the Public Health Ministry, said the first four boys taken out on Sunday were eating normal and plain food.
Rescuers had planned to keep the team where they were until they could find a safe way to get them out - keeping them supplied until the rainy season ended in October was a possibility.
In 2010, Man United hosted a group of miners from Chile who spent nearly 10 weeks underground before being rescued.
Despite all the risks associated with the rescue, she says she never had any doubt that the boys would all make it out.
Hours after the rescue was confirmed, President Trump tweeted his congratulations, adding, "Such a lovely moment - all freed, great job!"
"We were obviously very afraid of any kind of panic from the divers", he said, adding he was in awe of the boys' ability to stay calm. Two of them possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally "healthy and smiling", he said.
Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass barrier.
Elon Musk posted video and photos from inside the cave in Thailand where four boys and their soccer coach remain trapped.
Doctors expect the boys to be in the hospital for about seven days, although they could be out sooner if their bloodwork comes back negative for abnormalities.
Some of the boys had reportedly explored the cave system in the past, while some knew the system well, but became stuck after a flash flood trapped them deep inside the cave. "Such a attractive moment - all freed, great job!" he wrote.
Thought their harrowing ordeal scored them an invitation from Federation Internationale de Football Association to attend the World Cup final in Russia, the rescued Wild Boars soccer team will not be able to attend the match. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected". Six of the 12 boys on the soccer team attend her school. (The Wild Boars is the name of the kids' soccer team).
11 July 2018
