• Ekarat Wongsookchan. AP Photo
    Ekarat Wongsookchan. AP Photo
  • Somphong Jaiwong. AP Photo
    Somphong Jaiwong. AP Photo
  • Peerapat Sompiangjai. AP Photo
    Peerapat Sompiangjai. AP Photo
  • Panumas Saengdee. AP Photo
    Panumas Saengdee. AP Photo
  • Pipat Bodhi. AP Photo
    Pipat Bodhi. AP Photo
  • Adul Sam-on. AP Photo
    Adul Sam-on. AP Photo
  • Nattavut Takhamsai. AP Photo
    Nattavut Takhamsai. AP Photo
  • Chanin Vibulrungruang. AP Photo
    Chanin Vibulrungruang. AP Photo
  • Pornchai Kamluang. AP Photo
    Pornchai Kamluang. AP Photo
  • Duangpetch Promthep. AP Photo
    Duangpetch Promthep. AP Photo
  • Monkol Boompeam. AP Photo
    Monkol Boompeam. AP Photo
  • Prajak Sutham. AP Photo
    Prajak Sutham. AP Photo
  • Ekapol Chanthawong, the football coach of the 12 boys. AP Photo
    Ekapol Chanthawong, the football coach of the 12 boys. AP Photo

Thai caves rescue: Happy faces of all 12 boys and coach recovering in hospital


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

Only a handful of images had emerged of a few of the boys rescued in one of the most remarkable rescue operations in recent times.

But now the world can see the happiness and relief of all 12 boys and their football coach after individual images of them were released from Chiang Rai hospital in Thailand where they are recovering.

Some of them chose to sit calmly while they had their picture taken while others placed their hands together as a sign of respect or fist pumped in celebration. They are still wearing surgical masks to safeguard against infection

The Wild Boars football team were said to be in good health despite losing an average of 2kg during their two-week ordeal underground.

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsattayatorn said all 13 are set to leave the hospital on Thursday and they will need to be closely monitored for physical and psychological effects from their traumatic experience.

One of the divers, Richard Stanton, on Friday told reporters that the mission was "an order of difficulty much higher than anything that's been accomplished anywhere around the world by any other cave diving team".

The National
The National

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Read more:

Thai cave rescue: how an international coalition pulled off 'mission impossible'

Global support for Thai boys is inspiring