Thai boys hail their ‘miracle’ rescue from flooded cave during first media appearance
The team had no food at all until they were found deep in the complex, surviving only on water that dripped down the side of the cave
Twelve boys and their football coach who were rescued after being trapped for over a fortnight in a flooded Thai cave spoke publicly of their incredible ordeal for the first time on Wednesday at a press conference beamed around the world.
The “Wild Boars” team members looked healthy and happy as they answered questions about the nine days they spent in the dark before being discovered by members of an international rescue team.
A packed crowd greeted the youngsters – some of whom were trapped in the cave for 18 days – after they were discharged from hospital in Chiang Rai, and watched as they played with footballs on a small makeshift pitch before taking their seats.
“It is a miracle,” Wild Boars footballer Adul Sam-on, 14, said of the rescue, as the boys were gently quizzed about their terrifying experience.
The team had no food at all until they were found deep in the complex, surviving only on water that dripped down the side of the cave.
“We tried to dig out as we thought we cannot only wait for authorities to get us,” coach Ekkapol Chantawong told reporters.
“We only drank water,” said one of the boys, nicknamed Tee. “On the first day we were OK, but after two days we started feeling tired.”