Cave rescue of boys soccer team in Thailand
All 12 members of a youth soccer team and their coach were successfully rescued from a cave in Thailand where they had been stranded for more than two weeks.
Four boys were rescued by expert divers on Sunday, July 8; another four were freed Monday, July 9; and the last four boys and their coach were brought to safety on Tuesday, July 10.
Two divers were assigned to each child to help them navigate the dangerous, narrow passageways. Some were brought out on stretchers and all were taken to the hospital.
"We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave," said a post on the Thai Navy Seals Facebook page, referring to the name of the boys' soccer team. "Everyone is safe."
Here, the boys covered in hypothermia blankets are seen in a still image taken from a July 3, 2018, video by Thai Navy SEAL, shortly after they were found alive but trapped deep underground.
Stranded
The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring the Tham Luang cave after a practice game.
Monsoon flooding blocked off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.
Complex mission
The operation to rescue them from the cave has been complex and hampered by extreme weather.
On July 5, the death of a former Thai navy SEAL, who was placing oxygen canisters into the cave's tunnels, highlighted the risks of the mission.
Found
An image from video posted June 2, 2018, on the Facebook page of the Thai Navy SEAL team shows the soccer players and their assistant coach stuck deep in Thailand's Tham Luang Nan cave after being found by rescue divers.
Joyous volunteers
Volunteers celebrate at a makeshift press centre in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province, Thailand, on July 10 after the last of the 12 boys and their coach were rescued from a flooded cave.
Celebration
A woman lifts her child near the hospital, seen at left, as ambulance transporting members of the children's soccer team arrives in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai on July 10 after being rescued from the Tham Luang cave.
Relief
People react near a hospital where the rescued boys were being treated, in Chiang Rai, Thailand, on July 10.
Waiting near the hospital
People wait near a hospital where the boys were being treated after being rescued, in Chiang Rai on July 10.
Mission accomplished
The four Thai Navy SEALS who helped rescue the last four boys and their coach from the cave also emerged safely on Tuesday.
Onlookers
Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances transport the 10th rescued boy from a helipad near Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital on July 10.
Cheers
Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances transport some of the rescued schoolboys from a helipad to Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital on July 10.
Their whereabouts
Divers located the missing boys and their coach about 300-400 meters past a section of the cave that was on higher ground.
A risky mission
This graphic illustrates the escape route that rescuers had to navigate to free 12 boys and their soccer coach from the flooded cave.
Tight squeeze
This graphic illustrates a so-called "pinch point" in the escape route for 12 boys and their soccer coach in a flooded cave.
A complex operation
Rescuers have been working nonstop to pump water out of the cave and line escape routes with oxygen tanks.
Dozens of international search and rescue experts, including a U.S. military team, have been involved in the attempt to bring the boys and their coach to safety.
Schoolmates
Classmates of one of the boys trapped in the cave visit a tribute for the Wild Boars soccer team at the entrance of Ban Waingphan school on July 9, 2018 in Chiangrai, Thailand.
The search
Thai rescue workers enter the cave in a photo released by the Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018.
International effort
The Thai Navy SEAL team posted a photo on Facebook symbolizing the bond and the international effort to rescue the boys and their soccer coach.
Strategizing
A Thai Navy officer tries to figure out a way to pull water out of the cave as quickly as possible.
Getting the water out
Army and Navy officers bring water cylinders to transport rushing and rising water out of the cave.
Exploring the cave
A Thai Navy SEAL explores the cave in preparation for the rescue mission.
Rescued
Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances transport some of the rescued soccer players from a helipad to a hospital on July 9.
Fifth boy rescued
Onlookers watch and cheer as a helicopter flies towards an airstrip near Tham Luang Nang Non cave to transport the fifth boy rescued from the cave to hospital on July 9.
Classmate
A classmate of the Wild Boars soccer team talks to the press about his hopes for the group's safe return at the Maisaiprasitart School on July 9.
A teammate
Chill, 14, one of the members of the Wild Boars soccer team who did not enter the cave with his teammates, speaks to the press about his hopes for their safe rescue on July 9.
Prayers
People pray with Buddhist monks near the hospital where the boys rescued from the cave were brought for observation on July 9.
Rescued
Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances transport some of the rescued boys from a helipad to a hospital on July 9.
Support
Indian schoolchildren hold placards and pictures during a prayer event for the safe rescue of the soccer players and their coach in Ahmedabad on July 9.
Media
Members of the press attend a scheduled news conference to get information about the rescue on July 9.
Evacuation
Volunteers and soldiers line the road leading to the cave area where an ambulance carrying some of the rescued boys passes by after divers started evacuating the 12 boys and their coach on July 8.
Boys rescued
Onlookers watch and cheer as ambulances deliver boys rescued from the cave to hospital in Chiang Rai after they were transported by helicopters on July 8.
Prayers
Family members pray before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area as rescue operations continue for the 12 boys and their coach.
Rescuers
Hundreds of rescuers with equipment continue the rescue operation at the Tham Luang Nang Non cave on July 6.
Navy SEAL mourned
Family members grieve on July 6 during arrival honors for the remains of Saman Gunan, a former Royal Thai Navy SEAL who died preparing the rescue mission for the trapped 12 boys and their coach.
Saman Gunan
A Royal Thai Navy soldier carries a portrait of Saman Gunan, a former Navy SEAL who died while working on the rescue mission for the trapped 12 boys and their coach.
Press
Microphones are seen taped to a tree before a press conference at the command centre as rescue operations continue for the 12 boys and their football team coach on July 7.
Pheeraphat 'Night' Sompiengjai
A drawing of Pheeraphat 'Night' Sompiengjai, one of the soccer team members trapped in the cave, is seen next to news footage of the cave at Night's home in Mae Sai on July 4.
Photographs
Photographs of Pheeraphat 'Night' Sompiengjai are seen on a wall at his home in Mae Sai, Thailand, on July 4, 2018.
Hope
The great aunt of Pheeraphat 'Night' Sompiengjai, one of the trapped boys, displays birthday candles for Night at their home in Mae Sai on July 4.
Waiting
Pheeraphat Sompiengjai's family still has a birthday cake in the fridge, waiting for his return home.
Ritual
Lisu tribeswomen carrying paper flowers hold a ritual to appease the spirits of Tham Luang cave on July 2.
Celebration
Family members of one of the missing boys celebrate following news that all members of the soccer team and their coach were alive in the cave on July 2.
Duangpetch Promthep and coach
Thanaporn Promthep, a mother of one of the soccer players, displays an image of her son Duangpetch Promthep (with light) and his soccer coach Ekkapol Chantawong after hearing the news the group was found on July 2.
Joy
Family members celebrate while camping out near Tham Luang cave following the news that all members of children's soccer team and their coach were alive in the cave.
Sharing photos
Relatives of the missing boys share photos of them on July 2 after the 12 boys and their soccer coach were found alive in the cave where they had been missing for more than a week.
General Bancha Duriyaphan
General Bancha Duriyaphan speaks to the press after the 12 boys and their soccer coach were been found alive in the cave where they had been missing for more than a week.
Family
Relatives of the missing boys pray on July 2 after the 12 boys and their soccer coach were found alive in the cave
Practice run
Thai rescue workers practice medical drills on June 30 as rescue operations continue for the missing boys and their coach.
Getting them out
A Thai police official shows a soccer player's family member the process of the rescue mission inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave on June 28.
Lighting a candle
A monk lights a candle at an altar during a Buddhist prayer for the soccer team and their coach near Tham Luang cave on July 1.
Search
Divers prepare the underwater light for the search at at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park on July 2. Rescuers from China and Australia joined the search for 12 boys and their soccer coach while they were missing.
A photo of friends
Thananchai Saengtan, 15, shows a photo of his friends on July 1 as the rescue operation continues.
Family members
Family members and relatives of the soccer players pray at the entrance of Tham Luang cave on June 26.
U.S. forces
U.S. military personnel arrive at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park near Than Luang cave in Chiang Rai province on June 28 to assist in the rescue operation for the soccer team and their coach.
The cave
Rescuers install a water pump inside Tham Luang Nang Non cave on June 28.
Adorn Sanorn
A relative shows the photograph of missing Adorn Sanorn, 14, as family members keep vigil near Tham Luang cave on June 26.
Soldiers
Thai soldiers relay electric cable deep into the Tham Luang cave on June 26.
Water pumping
Thai soldiers carry hose deep into the Tham Luang cave to pump out water on June 27.
Prayers
Family members and relatives pray as they keep vigil near the Tham Luang cave on June 26.