Divers Rescue Thai Soccer Team From Flooded Cave

July 9, 2018
The team of twelve young soccer players and their coach have been trapped in a northern Thailand cave for more than two weeks due to rising flood waters

Rescuers have extracted twelve members of a boys soccer team and their coach stranded in a Thailand cave system since June 23. The twelve players and their coach went missing more than two weeks ago after rising floodwaters trapped the group in a cave system. An international team of specialist divers and Thai Navy SEALS worked to extract the team in a difficult 11 hour dive. Already, a Thai Navy SEAL died in his efforts to bring an oxygen tank to the team.

As rescue efforts faced the challenge of, depleting oxygen levels and increased rainfall remain. According to the New York Times, a new weir was been built outside of the cave and helped to keep water levels down, in addition to water being pumped out. The situation was further complicated because none of the boys knew how to swim and each must be flanked by two divers during the extraction process. 

The rescued boys were being transported to Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, 35.4 miles away, and are reported to be in stable conditions.

“We have two obstacles; water and time,” said Chiang Rai’s Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn of the extraction. “This is what we have been racing against since day one.” 

Live updates as the rescue unfolds can be found via CNN.

Story Updated 7/11/18, after all team members and their coach were rescued.