The Thai soccer players and their coach who were trapped inside a flooded cave for two weeks have been allowed to return home 26 days after their ordeal began.

The boys, who are aged between 11 and 16, hugged and kissed their families for the first time since disappearing on Wednesday evening, having previously been kept separated as they were quarantined in hospital.

The joyous moment came after a lengthy press conference in which the boys, looking happy and healthy, discussed their ordeal directly with the world's media for the first time.







http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5965443/Trapped-Thai-cave-boys-released-hospital-TODAY.html
Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Duangpetch Promthep, one of the 12 Thai soccer players trapped underground for more than two weeks in a flooded cave, is kissed by his relatives as they are reunited for the first time following the ordeal.

Before being reunited with their families, the boys gave a press conference in which they spoke about how they survived on nothing but water for 10 days and spent the time playing hop-scotch and 'King of the Cave'

One said that he feared being told off by his mother after first realising they had got stuck, while another fretted that he would not be able to finish his homework in time.

They also spoke of their guilt that Navy SEAL Saman Kunan died trying to find them, while several pledged to become SEALs in honour of him and their rescuers.

Sam, who spoke at a press conference alongside his teammates and coach, told of the moment British rescuers arrived, saying: 'We didn't think it was real at first, we were afraid they would walk past, so I said 'hello'.

'I heard 'hello' first but I did not see him at first. We heard them because they got out of the water and they were saying something.

'I thought they were Thai officers but when they got out of the water I found they were English. I didn't know what to say so I said 'hello'.

'It was magical, I was shocked, I had to think about the question when got up he asked 'how are you' and I said 'we are OK'. I said 'can I help you?' and he said 'no, just go up to the ledge.''

'They asked 'how many of you'. I said '13' and they said 'brilliant'.'



After some days 'We were very weak, we had no strength no energy,' the boys said

Chanin Wiboonrungrueang, the smallest of the group revealed: 'I felt I had no strength, I was very hungry. When I was really hungry I was trying not to think of food.'

Coach Ake explained how they contemplated their escape before they were found by the British divers.

'I think it was day five we discussed trying to find another way out. Should we go further? We knew there was another exit but it was very far... so we came back to the [mound] to discuss… at that point there was more water coming in.

'When I heard there was more water I told them to go to a higher position. At that point, not even an hour, water had gone up three metres and from then I told them that we are unable to go anywhere from here.'

Asked about how the experience has changed them, one boy said in the future: 'I will not be careless with anything'. Another said 'I will live my life fully'.

One boy said he still wants to be a professional football player, while Bew says he still wants to be a footballer but there might be a new dream to become part of the navy seal.

Thank God for His Grace........

Ekkapol Chantawong, the coach credited with helping to save the boys' lives by telling them to conserve energy and teaching them to meditate, shakes hands with a member of the press.

The boys revealed that they worried about being told off by their parents and about not being able to finish their homework after first getting trapped.


The boys have also pledged to ordain as Buddhist monks following their rescue, which is not a lifelong commitment and is undertaken by many young people in the deeply Buddhist nation.







Coach Ekkapol Chantawong also revealed that all of the boys can swim, despite reports that most of them could not, and that they had never been to the cave before getting trapped - though often posted about it online.

He said they first realised they were trapped while trying to get out and seeing how far the water had risen.

Ake said at first nobody panicked because they believed the water would recede the following day and that rescuers would come.

After he realised that would not happen, he assigned the boys shifts to dig at the back of the cave in order to find a way out, believing they could use ropes to climb to safety.

Ake, a former Buddhist monk, also advised the boys to avoid moving between digging shifts and to spend long stretches of time meditating to conserve energy.

The group survived on nothing but water running from the cave roof for 10 days before being found, with one boy saying he imagined fried rice in order to feel full.

Asked how long it took to feel hungry, the boys revealed: 'After two days I started to feel it. Coach Ake told us those who have strong torch lights to switch off because we want to use that later'

Am happy for the families

One of the football team smiles as the boys are given gifts from the Thai people following their rescue from the cave.


They also played football after the press conference.

'Titan' Chanin Vibulrungruang, 11, puts his head in his hands as he talks about the Navy SEAL who drowned trying to save them.


The youngsters also revealed their guilt over the death of Saman Kunan, who drowned trying to save them, and many said they would now like to become Navy SEALs in his honour.

Chanin said: 'This experience is a big experience for myself and I have learned many values within myself this experience has taught me to be stronger and to not give up'.

Asked if they will go back to the cave, Coach Ake said: 'I will not but if it's an officer wanting me to be the guide I might do that but just at the entrance to the cave!'

The boys also apologised to their parents for failing to tell them they were going to the cave.

'I want to say sorry that I was naughty and I did not listen to them,' said one

'I would also like to say sorry and did not tell them I was going to the cave... I will not go into the cave again,' another added.

'I want to say sorry because I told them the wrong cave,' a third said.



All of the questions were screened by psychologists ahead of time to avoid causing the boys additional trauma.

'We don't know what wounds the kids are carrying in their hearts,' said justice ministry official Tawatchai Thaikaew, who asked for the boys' privacy to be respected after the discharge, for fear that media attention could affect their mental health.

'The media know the children are in a difficult situation, they have overcome peril and if you ask risky questions then it could break the law,' he told reporters.

If Na for my country
Na RIP

As usual..Kudos Explorers for giving us in-depth coverage of this saga.

The team had previously been kept in quarantine inside hospital amid fears they had contracted diseases during their two weeks spent trapped in a cave.

Sweet

So touching....

Wow. This Is touching. Kudos to Thai government and people and whoever contributed to the rescue of the boys.

There they are, naughty children. I'm happy your families are happy now, all thanks to the countries that came to your aid and the rescue team, may the soul of the departed man rest in peace

Such a heart-warming story.
I'm so emotional right now, wipes please

Handsome boys.
Thanks to the volunteers and everyone who worked tirelessly to make sure they came out safely.

Thank you all for showing us humanity at it's finest!

Explorers:
Ake, a former Buddhist monk, also advised the boys to avoid moving between digging shifts and to spend long stretches of time meditating to conserve energy.

The group survived on nothing but water running from the cave roof for 10 days before being found, with one boy saying he imagined fried rice in order to feel full.

Asked how long it took to feel hungry, the boys revealed: 'After two days I started to feel it. Coach Ake told us those who have strong torch lights to switch off because we want to use that later'

Hahaha

Am so happy to see them smile again.......... Kudos to their coach for keeping them strong in the caved, kudos to the boys for being strong during it all, Weldon to the British divers that first had contact with them and a job Weldon to everyone that partake in rescuing the boys from the cave. And lastly R. I. P. to the departed soul

what were they actually looking for in that cave sef Oyinbo no dey hear word .. Anyways thank God for giving them a second chance ....

francisMKD:
what were they actually looking for in that cave sef
Oyinbo no dey hear word

Well, that's Africa.

People here have been asking that questions and is kind of strange.

The cave is one of the attractions in Thailand, but they went too deep.

I dont have much, but ive also been to attractions around me several times(Erin fall, Idanre Hills, Ikogosi), we swim, hike and climb.

If anything had happened to me there or on the way, the first question would be 'what are you looking for up and down?'

Over there, US/Canada their kids Cave, hike, mountaineer, raft for days outdoor.



Attached picture is another tourists attraction in same Thailand, boating and diving in flooded cave.





So no one cares about why they entered the cave but getting them out safely as soon as possible.

They didn't set up a committee to investigate why they entered the cave or their mission in the cave, because that would have taken like two weeks first.

Dont forget 'Request For Fund To Investigate The Disappearance Of 12 Boys And Their Coach In The Cave'

May the soul of Saman rest in peace !

DAMN!!!!
I'm glad for them!!!!

luminouz:
DAMN!!!! I'm glad for them!!!!

Same here