Thai Youth Soccer Team Recovering After Daring Cave Rescue
MAE SAI, Thailand (CBSNewYork) -- The Thai hospital where the 12 boys and their soccer coach are recuperating after being rescued from a flooded cave has released video showing them in their hospital beds, smiling and chatting with nurses.The video shows the boys in an isolation ward in beds with crisp white sheets and wearing green surgical masks.
Some of their parents are seen crying and waving to them from behind glass.
Chaiwetch Thanapaisal, director of Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, told a news conference involving officials involved in the rescue that "everyone is strong in mind and heart."
WATCH: First video emerges off Thai soccer team recovering in hospital's isolation ward after rescue https://t.co/hedaBXMrSX pic.twitter.com/6lMKtYAjVi
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A Thai health official said earlier Wednesday that the soccer teammates had lost weight during their two-week ordeal, but had water while they were trapped and remained in good health.
Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, a public health inspector, said Wednesday the 12 boys and coach rescued over the three previous days "took care of themselves well in the cave."
Thongchai said one member of the final group of four boys and the coach who arrived at a hospital Tuesday evening had a slight lung infection.
Two of the first group had a lung infection as well, and Thongchai said they would need medicine for seven days.
Divers extracted the team in a high-risk mission inside the flooded passageways. The group entered the cave June 23 but flooding cut off the exit.
Another new video clip to emerge on Wednesday came from the Thai Navy SEAL team which led the rescue effort, showing them pulling at least one of the boys through the cave on a stretcher, heavily sedated.