Entire Soccer Team and Coach Rescued from Thailand Cave

An ambulance with flashing lights leaves the cave rescue area in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai provi
AP/Sakchai Lalit
Warner Todd Huston

Finally, after days of intense rescue efforts, all 12 of the trapped teenaged Thai soccer players and their coach have been rescued.

Four of the boys emerged from the caves on Sunday, and by Monday evening, the final members of the team, as well as their coach, were pulled out of the caves they first entered over a week ago, CBS reported.

“The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old assistant coach became stranded when they went exploring inside after a practice game,” CBS noted. “Monsoon flooding blocked their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost ten days.”

President Donald Trump sent out his congratulations on the successful rescue effort tweeting, “On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand.”

Indeed, the plight of the “12 wild boars,” as the team members became known in the Thai press, captured the hearts of the world. Even American entrepreneur Elon Musk chimed in with offers to help, though Musk ultimately took no part in the rescue plans nor the final solution to extract the children from the caverns.

A small controversy did arise during the rescue when it was revealed that at least some of the children were dosed with an “anxiolytic to relieve anxiety” before they undertook the arduous, five-hour trip under water out of the caves.

Some reports maintained that the kids were given “chloroform” and knocked out for the trip out, but prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha flatly denied the claims.

“Who would chloroform them? If they’re chloroformed, how could they come out? It’s called anxiolytic something to make them not excited, not stressed,” Chan-o-cha said.

According to reports on the scene, the 25-year-old coach who allegedly led the team into the caves in the first place was the last to be pulled out of the earthly maw.

The boys all seem to be in stable health, and only one person perished in the rescue attempt when a former Thai Navy SEAL died from lack of oxygen early in the rescue attempt. Sgt. Major Saman Gunan, 38, died on July 5 after volunteering for the rescue operations.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.

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