Eighteen days after entering the caves on a team-bonding session, the remaining lost boys and their coach, as well as all rescue and medical personnel, emerged alive and well on Tuesday, following a daring and precarious operation, which saw one volunteer Navy seal lose his life.
Narongsak Osatanaskorn, the former governor who has led the rescue, made the official announcement at 9.45pm on Tuesday evening, after a tense few days of rescue missions.
“I never imagined this could happen – but we did it. We completed mission impossible,” the beaming rescue chief told a throng of hundreds of reporters and support crew, before stepping forth and inviting the crowd to join him and pose for photos.
The happy snap session went on for some time. After 10 minutes had passed, Mr Narongsak was at the centre of a crowd that could be heard chanting “hooyah, hooyah, hooyah” – the call sign of the Thai Navy seals, who played a major role in the three-day operation.
In an impassioned address, the coordinator said the rescue effort would serve as a “lesson to the world.”
He spoke about the “spirit of love” that had characterised the 18-day marathon to locate and evacuate the boys and said that heroes had been created in the Mae Sai district – “10,000 of them”.
“Images from these days will live on forever,” he said.
The team of expert divers from Thailand and around the world completed their improbable mission some 60 hours after a round-the-clock operation was launched on Sunday morning, as seasonal monsoon rains threatened to trap the boys and their coach inside the caves for months.
The 13 were stranded on a 10-square-metre ledge more than a mile inside the cave without proper food, water, sanitation or sunlight, until they were discovered by a pair of British divers on 2 July.
Conditions improved somewhat after rescuers made contact but fears about poor oxygen levels and the ominous monsoon kept the watching world on edge.
The jubilant rescue chief announced that the families of the five who came out of the cave today would be able to visit their loved ones this evening – a reversal on the previous two batches of four to emerge, who had to wait 24 hours to see theirs.
Gobchai Boon-orrana, the deputy director of Thailand’s department of disaster prevention and mitigation, was equally elated in addressing the crowd.
“Today, I don’t want to talk about work,” he announced.
One of the lead hands on the mission, Mr Gobchai referred to those rescued as his “13 grandsons.”
He joked that Thailand now had a new internationally famous tourist attraction, following wall-to-wall coverage of the cave rescue right around the globe.
Finally, he paid tribute to Saman Gunan, the 38-year-old Navy Seal who lost his life in the caves leading up the eventual rescue, declaring him a hero of the Thai people and the world.
“May he rest in peace – the hero of Thung Luam,” Mr Gobchai said.
Thailand schoolboys rescue – in pictures
1/21
Police and military personnel use umbrellas to cover a stretcher near a helicopter and an ambulance at a military airport in Chiang Rai as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside the cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district. Four boys among the group of 13 trapped in a flooded Thai cave for more than a fortnight were rescued on July 8 after surviving a treacherous escape, raising hopes elite divers would also save the others soon.
AFP/Getty
2/21
Thai rescue team members walk inside the cave
Rex Features
3/21
An ambulance exits from the Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
4/21
A military helicopter carrying rescued schoolboys approaches to land at a military airport in Chiang Rai
REUTERS
5/21
Rescuers hands locked with a caption reading “We Thai and the international teams join forces to bring the young Wild Boars home” where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23 in a cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The operation has begun to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach who will need to dive out of the flooded Thai cave where they have been trapped for more than two weeks, with officials saying Sunday morning that “today is D-Day.
AP
6/21
A Thai policeman stands guard at an entrance of the cave as rescue operations continue for 12 boys and their coach trapped at Tham Luang cave at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province on early July 8, 2018. Thai authorities told media on July 8 to leave a camp site near the cave where 12 boys and their coach have been trapped for more than two weeks so that “victims” could be helped, possibly signalling a long-awaited rescue effort to get them out.
AFP/Getty Images
7/21
Rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
8/21
Rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
9/21
Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
10/21
Thai policemen stand guard near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018. Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from the flooded cave before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.
AP
11/21
Journalists clear and prepare to leave the cave area during the ‘D-Day’ for the ongoing rescue operation for the child soccer team and their assistant coach to exit the cave at Tham Luang cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. The officials’ operations are underway to safely bring out the 13 members of the youth soccer team including their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018, out of the cave according to former Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said.
EPA
12/21
Thai family members of missing football players and their coach (R) pass to meet with the officers during rescue operations to save a soccer team at Tham Luang cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 03 July 2018. According to Chiang Rai provincial Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn rescuers are taking supplies and food into the cave to sustain the team while there extraction is worked out.
EPA
13/21
Rescuer walk out from cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018. Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from the flooded cave before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.
AP
14/21
Policeman line up on the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
15/21
Rescue workers along the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave as the first 2 ambulances carrying 2 boys pass by on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
16/21
Thai medics and police officers evacuate the first two children with a helicopter after rescued from Tham Luang cave before heading to hospital, at a helicopter pad in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Members of a children soccer team and their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave
EPA
17/21
An ambulance transporting the children who have been rescued, arrives at hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. The first six children have been confirmed to rescue on 08 July 2018 after have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018. Four members of a children soccer team and their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018 have been rescued on 08 July 2018, according to former Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said.
EPA
18/21
Ambulances transport boys rescued from Tham Luang Nang Non cave to hospital on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
19/21
Medical staff await for the rescued Thai children at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai. The twelve missing Thai children and their adult coach went missing after entering a cave at Tham Luang, in Chian Rai Privince
20/21
Ambulances transporting children after being rescue from Tham Luang cave, arrive Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Six children of a child soccer team have been rescued on 08 July 2018 after 12 of them and their assistant coach have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018.
EPA
21/21
Ambulances transporting children after being rescue from Tham Luang cave, arrive Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Six children of a child soccer team have been rescued on 08 July 2018 after 12 of them and their assistant coach have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018.
EPA
1/21
Police and military personnel use umbrellas to cover a stretcher near a helicopter and an ambulance at a military airport in Chiang Rai as rescue operations continue for those still trapped inside the cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district. Four boys among the group of 13 trapped in a flooded Thai cave for more than a fortnight were rescued on July 8 after surviving a treacherous escape, raising hopes elite divers would also save the others soon.
AFP/Getty
2/21
Thai rescue team members walk inside the cave
Rex Features
3/21
An ambulance exits from the Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
4/21
A military helicopter carrying rescued schoolboys approaches to land at a military airport in Chiang Rai
REUTERS
5/21
Rescuers hands locked with a caption reading “We Thai and the international teams join forces to bring the young Wild Boars home” where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23 in a cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The operation has begun to rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach who will need to dive out of the flooded Thai cave where they have been trapped for more than two weeks, with officials saying Sunday morning that “today is D-Day.
AP
6/21
A Thai policeman stands guard at an entrance of the cave as rescue operations continue for 12 boys and their coach trapped at Tham Luang cave at Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province on early July 8, 2018. Thai authorities told media on July 8 to leave a camp site near the cave where 12 boys and their coach have been trapped for more than two weeks so that “victims” could be helped, possibly signalling a long-awaited rescue effort to get them out.
AFP/Getty Images
7/21
Rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
8/21
Rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
9/21
Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuers are seen drillining ahead of the operation at the Tham Luang cave complex, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
10/21
Thai policemen stand guard near a cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018. Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from the flooded cave before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.
AP
11/21
Journalists clear and prepare to leave the cave area during the ‘D-Day’ for the ongoing rescue operation for the child soccer team and their assistant coach to exit the cave at Tham Luang cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. The officials’ operations are underway to safely bring out the 13 members of the youth soccer team including their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018, out of the cave according to former Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said.
EPA
12/21
Thai family members of missing football players and their coach (R) pass to meet with the officers during rescue operations to save a soccer team at Tham Luang cave in Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 03 July 2018. According to Chiang Rai provincial Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn rescuers are taking supplies and food into the cave to sustain the team while there extraction is worked out.
EPA
13/21
Rescuer walk out from cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach have been trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand Sunday, July 8, 2018. Thai authorities are racing to pump out water from the flooded cave before more rains are forecast to hit the northern region.
AP
14/21
Policeman line up on the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
15/21
Rescue workers along the main road leading to Tham Luang Nang Non cave as the first 2 ambulances carrying 2 boys pass by on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
16/21
Thai medics and police officers evacuate the first two children with a helicopter after rescued from Tham Luang cave before heading to hospital, at a helicopter pad in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Members of a children soccer team and their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave
EPA
17/21
An ambulance transporting the children who have been rescued, arrives at hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. The first six children have been confirmed to rescue on 08 July 2018 after have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018. Four members of a children soccer team and their assistant coach who have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018 have been rescued on 08 July 2018, according to former Chiang Rai Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said.
EPA
18/21
Ambulances transport boys rescued from Tham Luang Nang Non cave to hospital on July 8, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Divers began an effort to pull the 12 boys and their soccer coach on Sunday morning after they were found alive in the cave at northern Thailand. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows the boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach are in good health in Tham Luang Nang Non cave and the challenge now will be to extract the party safely.
Getty Images
19/21
Medical staff await for the rescued Thai children at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai. The twelve missing Thai children and their adult coach went missing after entering a cave at Tham Luang, in Chian Rai Privince
20/21
Ambulances transporting children after being rescue from Tham Luang cave, arrive Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Six children of a child soccer team have been rescued on 08 July 2018 after 12 of them and their assistant coach have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018.
EPA
21/21
Ambulances transporting children after being rescue from Tham Luang cave, arrive Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, 08 July 2018. Six children of a child soccer team have been rescued on 08 July 2018 after 12 of them and their assistant coach have been trapped in Tham Luang cave since 23 June 2018.
EPA
The local police commander Major General Churat Pan-ngao also took his turn to speak, first thanking the media for following official orders as the rescue operation unfolded.
He then turned his attention to a reporter who was detained for flying a drone near the cave mouth, explaining that he had been sent to court today and fined 10,000 Thai baht (£227).
The police chief said that he would do the offender the favour of keeping his identity secret. Polish journalists in Mae Sai have identified the man as Woytek Bojanowski, who they say is the nation’s journalist of the year.
Mr Narongsak said more details would be released on Wednesday on how the rescue was set up and carried out.
He said all 13 people rescued from the cave were in stable condition at a hospital in Chiang Rai – where Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited on Monday – and that more details about their condition would soon be released.
Earlier in the evening, the Thai Navy seals celebrated the successful and unlikely mission with a Facebook post: “We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the 13 Wild Boars are now out of the cave,” it read.
A secondary post featured their call to arms, which is catching fire all around a country that tonight breathed a collective sigh of relief: “Hooyah”.
