Thai ex-navy seal diver was a champion trail runner – tribute from team for ‘ultimate sacrifice’ helping soccer team trapped in cave
The North Face Adventure Team vows never to forget Saman Kunont, who lost his life bringing supplies to the boys trapped in a flooded cave
Tragic news broke on Friday morning that a former Thai navy diver died while trying to bring food to the trapped soccer team in Thailand, and now his former adventure racing team has paid tribute for his ‘ultimate sacrifice’.
Saman Kunont (also known as Gunan or Kunan) was part of The North Face Adventure Team. He switched from triathlons in 2012, and has since become the most decorated adventure racer in Thailand.
He came first four times in the Bangkok Challenge Race and four times in the River Kwai Trophy Adventure Race. He also won the Koh Samui Trophy Adventure Race and the Rembu International Adventure Race in Malaysia. He added five first places to his name at the Adventure Dash Series in Thailand.
Saman, 38, died at around 2am this morning. He was delivering oxygen to a junior Thai soccer team that has become trapped in a cave. But he did not have enough oxygen to get himself back to the entrance.