- Joined
- Oct 31, 2008
- Messages
- 23,349
- Reaction score
- 124,590
All great news! Much credit to everyone involved! Great work by the Thai government in going the extra mile to get all the resources and experts needed.
All boys and coach rescued from Thai cave
Over the past week we have called in to chat to Nopparat Kanthawong, the head coach of the Wild Boars football team, and usually found him talking tensely on the phone to parents of the boys. He went over and over the events of the day the boys went into the caves with his assistant after football practice. He says he had no idea they were going.![]()
Tonight there was an entirely different atmosphere in the house, just below the mountains where the men who run the Wild Boars meet. They laughed, shouted cheers and shook hands in a very un-Thai way. And coach Nop was smiling for the first time, and almost speechless.
"I don’t know what to say – I just want to see them, and hug them," he told me.
I was then able to show him a note from Manchester United to the rescued boys. It was an invitation to visit Old Trafford next season, as most of the boys are passionate Man U fans. There was a little disbelief, and then elation, even from coach Nop, who admits he is a Liverpool fan who has failed to convert the rest of his team. "Is this for real?" they asked.
Getting them to UK from this far-flung border town will be a challenge. Three of the boys and coach Ekapol, who was with them in the caves, are not recognised as full Thai citizens, a fairly common problem for communities along the Thai-Myanmar border. But they just made an almost miraculous escape from a cave. They will probably make it to Manchester
I think they might- what do you think? The death of one guy is one too many.
So glad everyone else is out safe and sound and can recover.
I haven't been able to read all the 191 posts in the last couple of hours - had to get some work done :-(
Hooyah
Good grief, I have never ever seen so much confusion in reporting as we’ve seen here.
All boys and coach rescued from Thai cave
Fifa has just told the BBC that the boys will not be making the match.
Here's what they said:
FIFA would like to express its great joy at the news of the rescue of the 12 young footballers and their coach. We would like to convey our profound gratitude to all persons involved in the rescue operation, which unfortunately took the life of one of the divers. Our thoughts are with his family.
We have been informed by the Football Association of Thailand that due to medical reasons, the boys will not be in a position to travel to Moscow for the FIFA World Cup final. FIFA's priority remains the health of everyone involved in the operation and we will look into finding a new opportunity to invite the boys to a FIFA event to share with them a moment of communion and celebration.
We can also confirm that a meeting with the Football Association of Thailand is scheduled to take place in Moscow around the FIFA World Cup final.
===
Remembering diver Saman Gunan
BBC Thai spoke to his family after his death.
"I really loved him," his wife Waleeporn Gunan said. "Every day before he left for work, we said we loved each other. At midday, we'd text to see if the other had had lunch.
"I want to tell you honey, you are the hero in my heart, you always were and always will be."
===
This is great!
The Thai public broadcaster has tweeted footage of volunteers breaking into song after news of the successful rescue.
I think they might- what do you think? The death of one guy is one too many.
So glad everyone else is out safe and sound and can recover.
I haven't been able to read all the 191 posts in the last couple of hours - had to get some work done :-(
Hooyah
BBM. Oh hellfire, that's it, I'm gone. I'm on the emotional train rn.
Just thinking about how long it will take to remove the equipment from the cave. I wonder if they'll wait until after the monsoon.
Thailand has universal healthcare coverage for all Thai citizens. So that shouldn't be a problem.And also now these poor boys' families have a week long hospital bill
to worry about. Where's Oprah and Bill Gates?
And also now these poor boys' families have a week long hospital bill
to worry about. Where's Oprah and Bill Gates?
awesome math skills !!