Medical team on its way to meet the survivors: Governor

A happy Chiang Rai governor announced that all the 12 boys and their football coach who went missing inside Tham Luang cave since June 23 have been found alive at a spot about 400 metres from Pattaya Beach.

“Today, everyone is happy that they have found (the 13 missing). It is the spirit of cooperation of all sectors. (I) wish Thailand has similar spirit of cooperation and Thailand will prosper,” said the Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn at an impromptu press briefing held at about 22.40 at the rescue command centre at Tham Luang cave.

He said that a medical team was on its way to see them in the cave which will take them about four hours to reach the survivors and their rescuers.

The 12 boys are from different schools in Mae Sai district. They are identified as Adul Sam-on, 14, a Mathayom 2 student of Ban Wiang Parn school;

Prachak Sutham, 14, a Mathayom 2 student of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Natthawut Thakhamsai, 14, a Mathayom 2 student of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Pipat Pothi, 15, of Ban Sansai school;

Panumat Saengdee, 13, of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Duangpet Promthep, 13, of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Chanin Wiboonrungruang, 11, of Mae Sai kindergarten school;

Aekkarat Wobgsukchan, 14, of Daroonrat Witthaya school;

Phirapat Sompiangjai, 16, of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Pornchai Kamluang, 16, of Ban Pa Yang school;

Sompong Jaiwong, 13, of Mae Sai Prasitsart school;

Mongkol Boonyiam, 13, of Ban Pa Mued school;

Aekkapol Chanthawong, 25, the football coach.

The nine-day search and rescue operation which involved private and government sectors, the military and the police, civil servants and civilian volunteers as well as foreign rescue teams from the US, Britain, Australia, Japan, China, Laos and Myanmar with the Navy Seal teams playing the pivotal role in the rescue operation.

It was the biggest rescue operation ever mounted in this country.

Now the 13 missing have been found alive but the rescue operation was only half-completed. The next hurdle which is as challenging for the rescuers is how to get them out of the cave safely so they can be evacuated to hospitals for medical treatment.