The great cave rescue: the extraordinary story of the Thai boy soccer team trapped in a cave for 18 days (2024)

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Did all 13 boys survive Thai cave rescue? ›

All 12 Boys And Their Coach Are Rescued From Thai Cave After 2 Weeks.

The team's path to survival became a closely watched global drama, and their extraordinary escape was hailed as a miraculous feat of human collaboration. Found alive more than a week after they went missing, the group had survived by conserving energy and licking water off the cave walls.

The team navigated 2.5km of constricted underwater passageways and successfully saved all 13 lives. One rescuer died during the mission, and a Thai navy SEAL died later from a blood infection.

And, while all the boys survived, two Thai divers lost their lives during the rescue. At around 1 a.m. on July 6, Saman Kunan, a retired SEAL who'd volunteered for the rescue, died from asphyxiation while placing air tanks in the cave.

As the world watched, the boys and their coach were removed from the cave one by one while sedated with the drug ketamine. But for the boys - who were aged between 11 and 16 - their escape marked the beginning of a new challenge: dealing with the fascination of the world's media.

After the flooded section, when they reached the divers' operating base the cave, the boys were bundled into stretchers and carried or winched along ropes, according to footage released by the Thai Navy Seals. Each journey back to the entrance took several hours.

Eak is played by Papangkorn “Beam” Lerkchaleampote. Prior to Thai Cave Rescue, he starred in Water Boyy and Stranded, among other projects. Sadly, he died in his sleep on March 23, 2022, in his hometown of Bangkok, Thailand, at age 25.

Twelve members of the team, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered the cave on 23 June after a practice session. Shortly after they entered, heavy rainfall began and partially flooded the cave system, blocking their way out and trapping them deep within.

AttractionsThailand's Tham Luang cave is now offering guided tours to give visitors a glimpse into the dramatic '13 Wild Boars' rescue mission.

Captain of Thai football team rescued from flooded cave took his own life at UK school. Duangpetch "Dom" Promthep, 17, died in February after he was found unconscious in his dormitory room at school. New: You can now listen to articles.

Who saved the Thai soccer team? ›

British divers John Volanthen and Rick Stanton were the two divers who first discovered the 12 boys and their coach in the cave system.

Yes, Thai Cave Rescue is based on the true story of the rescue of 12 Thai boys from youth soccer team the Wild Boars and their coach from the Tham Luang Cave, between June 23 and July 10, 2018.

Thai cave rescuers, who sedated boys, coach to get them out, describe harrowing moment when first boy started to come to during rescue. The boys were sedated with Ketamine for their and the diver's protection. They had been agonizing over an impossible rescue mission for days, and time was quickly running out.

They were able to survive the ordeal through a combination of birthday snacks, dripping water and meditation. After their rescue, the team and their coach described how they had survived by drinking water that was dripping off stalactites in the cave.

His great-uncle and guardian, Go Shin Maung, told the paper his nephew wanted to work for the UN. "The boys are going their own ways," Mr Go told the paper. "Some will pursue their studies and some are following football. They still chat and message with each other, sharing their experiences."

"The boys are going their own ways," Mr Go told the paper. "Some will pursue their studies and some are following football. They still chat and message with each other, sharing their experiences."

Tham Luang Cave in Thailand, which became famous after the successful rescue of 12 boys and a football coach in 2018, has reopened for adventure tourism with a limited number of tourists.

But those behind the series promise that it offers a different perspective and maximum authenticity. Thai Cave Rescue includes exclusive insights from extensive interviews with the real-life Wild Boars and their guardians—and some of the scenes were shot in the boys' real homes.