Thai football team rescued from cave mark anniversary of ordeal

Megan White24 June 2019

The Thai football team who became trapped in a cave for more than two weeks last year have marked the anniversary with a religious ceremony.

The Wild Boars team took part in a Buddhist ceremony in which they gave food to monks before attending a news conference to talk about their lives since the incident.

They hit headlines after flooding trapped them inside the Tham Luang cave complex with their coach.

The boys, now aged 12 to 17, spent nine nights lost in the cave, living on very little food and water, before they were found deep in the twisting complex huddled on a patch of dirt above the rising water line.

Coach Ekapol Chantawong speaks with his team during their return to Tham Luang
Reuters

It was another eight days before they were all rescued, with a team of expert divers guiding them out.

British cave expert Vernon Unsworth, who was recently awarded an MBE, was among the divers who battled to save the boys.

Chanin Vibulrungruang, 12, the youngest of the group, said he now has to tell his parents where he's going every time he leaves his house.

He said: "I already told my mom I was coming to this event.

British cave expert Vernon Unsworth participated in a bike ride and marathon to improve conditions in the cave
AP

"My life has changed a lot since then because many people recognise me now."

The drama of the ordeal kept the world watching and the boys have since become celebrities.

Ekapol Chantawong, the 26-year-old coach who led the boys into the cave, added: "I want to say thank you to everyone who took part in saving all of our lives.

"We promise that we'll be good role models to society, and we also love everyone."

Thailand Cave Rescue: One Year Anniversary - In pictures

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Mr Chantawong said most of the boys still dream of becoming professional football players, while some want to become Navy SEALs like those who took part in their search and rescue.

On Sunday, several of the boys, their coach and a number of the local and foreign divers, including Mr Unsworth, took part in a bike ride and run to raise money to improve conditions at the cave.

The news conference was held at the Saman Gunan monument center, an art gallery erected near the cave to honour the fallen former Thai Navy SEAL who died while working on the search and rescue.

The day's events were organised by the 13 Tham Luang Co. Ltd., a company that manages business opportunities stemming from the ordeal that was established with help from Thailand's military government.

All 13 survivors hold shares in the company with coach Mr Chantawong acting as chairman.

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