Skip to content

Thai cave rescue: Thai boys' tears for lost rescue diver Saman

Reuters The 12-member "Wild Boars" soccer team and their coach rescued from a flooded cave pose with a drawing picture of Samarn Gunan, a former Thai navy diver who died working to rescue them, at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh HospitalReuters
The 12 boys and their coach pictured with a drawing of Saman Gunan (also spelled Kunan), who died working to rescue them

The 12 young footballers who were saved from a Thai cave after an international rescue effort are mourning a former Navy Seal who died in the operation.

Volunteer diver Saman Gunan lost his life on 6 July while installing oxygen tanks in the flooded cave complex.

He has since been hailed as a hero around the world.

The boys and their 25-year-old coach were told of his sacrifice only on Saturday, when doctors decided they were strong enough to process the news.

"All cried and expressed their condolences by writing messages on a drawing of Lieutenant Commander Saman and observed one minute of silence for him," said Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, permanent secretary at the health ministry.

Photos showed the "Wild Boars" football team, who are being monitored in hospital, gathered solemnly around a picture of the diver.

"They also thanked him and promised to be good boys," the health ministry said.

Reuters The young footballers bow their heads in commemoration after writing messages on a drawing of Samarn GunanReuters
The young footballers bow their heads after writing messages of commemoration
Wife and father remember 'hero' Thai diver: "He loved helping others"

The boys, aged 11-16, were pulled from the cavern by Thai Navy Seals and foreign cave diving experts, in a three-day rescue push that ended on 10 July.

They are expected to leave Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital on Thursday, though many are still on antibiotics.

They will be watched for signs of psychological distress, which may only become evident in the months to come. The boys have been advised against giving media interviews, which experts say could trigger a post-traumatic reaction.

The youngsters and their coach had been invited to the final of the 2018 World Cup by its organiser, Fifa, but had to decline on medical grounds.

As the live game will be broadcast quite late on Sunday 15 July (at 22:00 Thai time), doctors said they will enjoy a recording later.

The boys' nail-biting tragedy-turned-survival-story has been followed by millions worldwide since 23 June, when they walked into the Tham Luang cave after football practice - only to be trapped by monsoon floods.

They had spent nine days in the cave with little food or light when British divers first reached them on Monday 2 July.

Scores of volunteers and almost 100 divers joined the effort to free them, which saw the boys sedated and carried out on military stretchers.

First video messages from rescued Thai boys

Some of the specialists have expressed shock that Saman, 38, was the only person killed in the perilous venture.

His widow told the BBC: "He's been praised as a hero because of who he was. He loved helping others, doing charity work and getting things done."

Around 4,000 volunteers are working to clean up the area around the now-infamous cave, which was battered by relays of rescuers, volunteers and news crews.

While the cave system has been closed, officials have said it could be reopened as a tourist attraction - with strict safeguards to prevent future disasters.