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Thai cave footballers and coach describe 'miracle' rescue


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Twelve players and coach speak in first press conference since being rescued last week

 

The 12 players and coach of the Wild Boars football team who were dramatically rescued from a Thai cave last week have spoken publicly about their ordeal for the first time at a press conference beamed around the world.

 

A crowd greeted the youngsters after they were discharged from hospital in Chiang Rai, and watched as they played on a small makeshift pitch before taking their seats.

 

It is a miracle,” said one of the footballers, Adul Sam-on, 14, of the rescue, as the boys, wearing team shirts, were gently quizzed about their experience.

 

The coach, Ekaphol “Ake” Chantawong, revealed the boys had dug tunnels in the complex hoping to find a way out in the days before they were discovered. “We tried to dig out as we thought we cannot only wait for authorities to get us,” he said.

 

Ake said the boys often took part in group activities after Saturday football practice and had decided to go to the cave because they had not been in it before.

 

He said the trip was not to celebrate the birthday of one of the boys, as had been previously reported, but that they had all intended to go to his party at 5pm on the day of the visit and were headed back to the cave entrance when they realised they were trapped by flood waters.

 

Ake said he and the boys moved backwards through the cave and heard the water rising towards them but not the rain outside. He told them not to be scared because the water would go down tomorrow.

 

Contrary to reports, the boys could all swim, Ake said, and had considered swimming out.

 

He also confirmed reports that the boys want to be ordained as Buddhist monks to honour a former Thai navy Seal who died during the rescue mission.

 

The boys and coach were alone in the cave for nine days before British cavers discovered them on a muddy ledge. They were all brought out after more than two weeks underground by rescue teams led by Thai navy Seal divers.

 

he Thai navy Seals who stayed inside the cave with them once they were found sat beside the boys at the press conference. Several of the boys told the press conference they wanted to become navy Seals when they were older.

 

The team were digging for an escape route when the British cavers arrived. The boys thought they heard the sound of voices and Adul volunteered to investigate. He said he was so shocked when he first saw them, all he could say was “hello”.

 

The team had no food at all until they were found deep in the complex, surviving only on water that dripped down the side of the cave. But doctors said all 13 were in good physical and mental health after recuperating in hospital.

 

“We drank water that fell from the rocks,” said Pornchai Khamluan, 16.

 

The Wild Boars looked healthy and happy as they answered questions on Wednesday. One promised to be “more careful and live my life the fullest” from now on. Another said that the experience had taught him to be “more patient and strong”.

 

The briefing was tightly controlled, with experts warning of possible long-term distress from the more than two weeks the boys spent trapped inside the cramped, flooded chamber of the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand.

 

The public relations department in Chiang Rai solicited questions from news outlets in advance, which were forwarded to psychiatrists for screening.

 

Thailand’s junta leader, Prayuth Chan-ocha, urged media on Wednesday to be “cautious in asking unimportant questions” that could cause unspecified damage.

 

Interest in the saga has been intense, with film production houses already eyeing a Hollywood treatment of the drama.

 

The boys, aged 11 to 16, will be allowed to go home later on Wednesday. Doctors have advised their families that the boys should avoid contact with journalists for at least a month.

 

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