All 12 boys and soccer coach rescued from Thai cave

By Brian Ries, Euan McKirdy, Hilary Whiteman and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 8:03 p.m. ET, July 10, 2018
61 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
6:21 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Breaking: First person taken from cave Monday

Rescuers brought at least one boy out of the cave system on Monday, according to a witness outside the cave in northern Thailand.

He joins four other boys who were rescued on Sunday from deep inside the cave by a team of international and Thai dive experts.

The boys, all part of a youth soccer team known as the Wild Boars, first went missing over two weeks ago. Last Monday they were discovered huddled on a narrow shelf of rock deep within the flooded cave system.

5:37 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Rains threatening once again

After a relatively dry day at the rescue site, rain clouds are again hugging the hills surrounding the cave system.

With the exception of a few hours of rain Sunday afternoon, the weather has generally been kind to the rescue efforts, allowing them to pump millions of liters of water out of the flooded cave system, vastly improving conditions.

But the monsoon is an ever-present worry and even a short period of torrential rain could set back rescue efforts for the remaining boys and their coach.

5:29 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Boys "want to eat Phad Ka Pao"

A woman cooks grilled chicken to be packed for volunteers and rescue personnel during a rescue operation.
A woman cooks grilled chicken to be packed for volunteers and rescue personnel during a rescue operation. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images

The four rescued boys are in an isolation ward in a nearby hospital, says mission commander Narongsak Osotthanakorn.

They're being held in quarantine for the next couple of days, and are asking for food -- specifically Phad Ka Pao, a Thai dish of minced beef, basil and chilli -- he said.

The boys endured nine days of little or no food while inside the cave, before being found by British divers on July 2. One of the first things they asked for was food.

In a joint letter to their parents delivered on Saturday, the boys said "we really want to go out and eat so many types of food."

The youngest, Chanin Viboonrungruang, said he wanted to eat fried chicken when he was finally rescued.

His father, Tanawat Viboonrungruang explained to CNN that the boy's letter was referring to a promise made to the boy by his aunt go to the local KFC.

4:52 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Rescue leader: We hope for good news soon

Thai policemen secure the road leading to Tham Luang cave area as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside the cave.
Thai policemen secure the road leading to Tham Luang cave area as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside the cave. YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

Mission commander Narongsak Osotthanakorn confirmed that Monday's attempt to rescue more boys from the cave began at 11 a.m. local time (12 p.m. ET).

It involves the same divers -- with a "few swapped out" -- who carried out Sunday's treacherous operation which took nine hours and led to the rescue of four boys. 

He said that the team "hope to hear good news soon."

The second attempt started up after rescue workers got some rest and refilled supplies.

3:43 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Coach's aunt: He just wants to "help others"

Amporn Sriwichai, the aunt of the trapped coach.
Amporn Sriwichai, the aunt of the trapped coach. Salman Saeed/CNN

Amporn Sriwichai, the aunt of 25-year-old coach Akkapol Chanthawong, says she wants people to understand that he is a good person, and did not mean for the boys to become trapped. She tells CNN that he was orphaned at the age of 10 and has experienced "many difficulties."

He wants nothing more than to give back and help others, she says.

While trapped in the cave, the young coach wrote a letter to his aunt and grandmother, who raised him.

To my aunt and grandmother,I'm OK, don't worry about me too much. Take care of your health. Aunt, please tell grandmother to make a vegetable drink and crispy pork when I get out. I will go and eat it. Love to everybody.

He also wrote to the parents of the boys with him, begging them for forgiveness. In response, they wrote back:

We believe in you and your spirit that you've been taking a good care of our kids. We just want you to know that this is not your fault. 

3:22 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Ambulances back at cave entrance

At least five ambulances have returned to cave entrance as divers make their way through flooded tunnels to reach 8 boys and their coach who are still trapped.

The operation recently restarted after a morning of preparation, which included refilling oxygen tanks used in Sunday's rescue mission.

Four of the boys were carried out of the cave late Sunday, and are receiving medical attention in the nearby city of Chiang Rai.

3:08 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

BREAKING: Rescue operation resumes

Thai soldiers walk out from the Tham Luang cave area as operations continue to rescue the stranded eight boys and their coach.
Thai soldiers walk out from the Tham Luang cave area as operations continue to rescue the stranded eight boys and their coach. YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

The mission to extricate the Thai boys and their coach from the cave has resumed, according to a Thai navy official with knowledge of the operation.

The navy officer told CNN: “The operation has begun and it is ongoing at the moment.”

He added the same set of divers as yesterday have gone into the cave.

2:14 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Thai newspapers laud "super skillful" rescue teams

Thai newspapers Monday morning.
Thai newspapers Monday morning. Karla Cripps/CNN

News of the rescue of four of the twelve boys Sunday night dominated headlines in the Thai press. This selection of papers in Bangkok includes the Daily News' celebration of "Thai Navy SEALs and the super-skillful dive team" who spearheaded the operation.

1:11 a.m. ET, July 9, 2018

Official: Rescue operation hasn't resumed yet

The operation to extricate the remaining trapped boys and their coach from deep within a Thai cave has not resumed, says Deputy Commander to 3rd Army Region Maj. Gen. Chalongchai Chaiyakum.

The general, who is involved in the decision-making process, told CNN on the phone: “The operation has not resumed yet. We are still in meetings.”

Late Sunday, officials said the operation would pause for at least 10 hours to allow them time to refill spent oxygen tanks.