The Wild Boars soccer team have given their first press conference after their incredible rescue from a flooded cave system in Thailand.
The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their coach Ekkapol Chantawong, aged 25, took questions from the media at a special conference in Chiang Rai, along with an army doctor, hospital staff who’d been caring for them, and three Thai Navy SEALs.
One boy, Adul, revealed that they had been surprised that the first rescuer they encountered was not Thai – and that they heard his voice before they saw him.
Someone was raising their head above the water and said, ‘hello’. I went in there and he asked ‘is anyone there?’ When they came out of the water I was surprised. I didn’t know what to talk to them [about]. I said ‘hello’ or something like that. When they said ‘hello’ to me, I said ‘hello’ back. It was so magnificent.
don’t cry don’t cry don’t cry
The boys told reporters that they were shocked to find out how long they’d been in the cave before rescuers found them – ten days – and that they had had no food at all, and survived on water dripping from the walls.
The youngest member of the team, Titun, said:
I had no strength. I tried not to think about food so I didn’t get more hungry.
DON’T CRY DON’T CRY DON’T CRY
Coach Chantawong, also known as Ake, said that they’d kept morale high by reassuring each other that they’d be rescued.
The boys also presented a tribute they had drawn of retired Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who died during the rescue.
Rest In Peace Saman Kunam. (former Thai Navy Seal) After delivering oxygen for the children trapped in the cave he didn’t have enough for himself on the way back. This man is the definition of selfless. He is a real hero. #ThaiCaveRescue
#ThailandCaveRescue pic.twitter.com/TUo4mTsfDY
— 😈Demons Gonna Hate (@Lady_Huntress67) July 10, 2018
Ake said that the team struggled with feelings of guilt after learning that Kunan had died.
Everyone was very sad. They felt like they were the reason he had to die and his family had to suffer.
OKAY EXTREMELY CRYING
In case you weren’t already in floods at your desk, the boys also apologised to their parents for causing them trouble and heartache (!!!), and one of them even said that his main worry while trapped in a flooded cave was not being able to do his homework.
Honestly! Whom are these angels!
Health officials have given a cautious all-clear on all the boys, who’ve gained an average of three kilos each since their rescue last week.
As for the future – at least five of the team say they want to grow up to be Navy SEALs, and one has his sights firmly set on playing soccer for Thailand.
Bless these beautiful little boars. Maybe 2018 isn’t so bad after all.
