The football coach trapped in a Thai cave with 12 of his young players has apologised to their parents as the boys sent out notes to loved ones on the outside world.
“Right now the kids are all fine, the crew are taking good care,” wrote Ekapol Chanthawong in a handwritten letter brought out by divers. “I promise I will care for the kids as best as possible. I want to say thanks for all the support and I want to apologise to the parents.”
The 12 boys – aged 11 – 16 – and the 25-year-old coach were exploring the cave in the Chiang Rai region when they became trapped by flash flood waters on 23 June. Specially-trained divers reached them on Monday but no plan has yet been agreed on how to rescue the group from the complex and partially submerged tunnel system.
A former Thai navy SEAL diver Saman Gunan died while coming back from taking oxygen tanks to the boys on Thursday.
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The series of letters from the group were handed to British divers on Friday and released on a Thai Navy Facebook page on Saturday.
“Don’t worry, we are all strong,” one child says in a note. “Teacher, don’t give us lots of homework!” he joked.
Another said: “I’m doing fine, but the air is a little cold but don’t worry. Although, don’t forget to set up my birthday party.”
Several of the boys appear in good enough spirits to suggest mums and dads cook them their favourite meal if and when they get out.
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The letters are the first means of communication between the team – called the Wild Boars – and their families since attempts to establish a phone line inside the cave failed earlier this week.
The coach’s own message is the first time he has spoken publicly since facing criticism for taking the young boys into the cave – apparently as part of a ritual challenge – during the monsoon season.
Responding to his apology, several parents made it clear they do not hold him responsible.
Writing on the local government’s Facebookpage, one said: “Mums and dads are not angry at you. Thank you for helping take care of the kids.”
Divers gather before they enter to the Tham Luang cave, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
Thai military bring water pumps to the cave. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows that 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
An honour guard holds up a picture of Samarn Kunan, 38, a former member of Thailand’s elite navy SEAL unit who died working to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped inside a flooded cave, at an airport in Rayong province
REUTERS
Military personnel are seen in front of the Tham Luang cave
REUTERS
The former navy SEAL diver, Saman Kunan, who died trying to help save the trapped boys
Saman Kunan/Facebook
Rescue workers convene behind a large pile of oxygen tanks
AFP/Getty Images
A Buddhist monk leads military honor guards carrying a flag-draped coffin containing former Thai Navy Seal Petty Officer 1st class Saman Kunan, who died in the ongoing Tham Luang cave rescue operations, during a repatriation ceremony at Mae Fah Luang international airport.
EPA
Thai students pray for the ongoing rescue operations
EPA
Thai soldiers and police officers pay their respects as a Thai Navy plane carrying the body of Saman Kunan takes off
AFP/Getty Images
Rescue workers prepare frogsuits for soldiers
AFP/Getty Images
The diver’s death raises serious doubts over the safety of attempting to bring the 12 boys and their football coach out through the cramped, waterlogged passageways of the Tham Luang cave.
AP
Family members pray before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
A family member prays before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
Thai rescue teams use headlamps to enter a pitch-black cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 2, 2018. The group was discovered late July 2 after 10 days totally cut off from the outside world, and while they are for the most physically healthy, experts say the ordeal has likely taken a mental toll that could worsen the longer the situation lasts.
AP
The mother of a trapped child reacts during the ongoing rescue operations
EPA
Family members pray before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
Grandmother Kham-aoey Promthep, 64, shows a photograph of her grandson, Duangpetch Promthep, who is one of 13 members
EPA
The 12 boys and their coach in the cave
REUTERS
Rescue teams assemble at the entrance to the Tham Luang cave complex
AP
A Thai student shows an image of her classmate Panumas Sangdee, who is one of 13 members of a soccer team trapped
EPA
Buddhist monk Kruba Boonchum visits the site to perform religious rituals
Getty Images
A relative shows a picture of the boys after they were found on 2 July
AFP/Getty Images
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visits the site
REUTERS
A rescue team stands in the entrance to the cave
AP
British cave-divers (from left to right) Richard William Stanton, Robert Charles Harper and John Volanthen join the rescue effort
AFP/Getty Images
Divers prepare for the rescue mission
EPA
A rescuer enters the cave
AP
The father of one of the missing boys thanks soldiers after the boys are found
AFP/Getty Images
Relatives celebrate after they hear that the boys have been found
AFP/Getty Images
Relatives pray after they hear that the boys have been found
Getty Images
Relatives celebrate after they hear that the boys have been found
AFP/Getty Images
General Bancha Duriyaphan announces the news to the press
Getty Images
With the rescue mission still ongoing, Thai soldiers carry equipment into the cave
EPA
With the rescue mission still ongoing, Thai soldiers carry equipment into the cave
EPA
Water is being pumped out of the flooded cave complex in an effort to make the rescue easier
Getty Images
Rescue workers prepare oxygen tanks for the rescue mission. It is thought that the boys may have to be taught how to dive in order to escape the cave
EPA
Divers gather before they enter to the Tham Luang cave, where 12 boys and their soccer coach are trapped, in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand
REUTERS
Thai military bring water pumps to the cave. Videos released by the Thai Navy SEAL shows that 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
An honour guard holds up a picture of Samarn Kunan, 38, a former member of Thailand’s elite navy SEAL unit who died working to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped inside a flooded cave, at an airport in Rayong province
REUTERS
Military personnel are seen in front of the Tham Luang cave
REUTERS
The former navy SEAL diver, Saman Kunan, who died trying to help save the trapped boys
Saman Kunan/Facebook
Rescue workers convene behind a large pile of oxygen tanks
AFP/Getty Images
A Buddhist monk leads military honor guards carrying a flag-draped coffin containing former Thai Navy Seal Petty Officer 1st class Saman Kunan, who died in the ongoing Tham Luang cave rescue operations, during a repatriation ceremony at Mae Fah Luang international airport.
EPA
Thai students pray for the ongoing rescue operations
EPA
Thai soldiers and police officers pay their respects as a Thai Navy plane carrying the body of Saman Kunan takes off
AFP/Getty Images
Rescue workers prepare frogsuits for soldiers
AFP/Getty Images
The diver’s death raises serious doubts over the safety of attempting to bring the 12 boys and their football coach out through the cramped, waterlogged passageways of the Tham Luang cave.
AP
Family members pray before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
A family member prays before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
Thai rescue teams use headlamps to enter a pitch-black cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Monday, July 2, 2018. The group was discovered late July 2 after 10 days totally cut off from the outside world, and while they are for the most physically healthy, experts say the ordeal has likely taken a mental toll that could worsen the longer the situation lasts.
AP
The mother of a trapped child reacts during the ongoing rescue operations
EPA
Family members pray before a shrine in Tham Luang cave area
AFP/Getty Images
Grandmother Kham-aoey Promthep, 64, shows a photograph of her grandson, Duangpetch Promthep, who is one of 13 members
EPA
The 12 boys and their coach in the cave
REUTERS
Rescue teams assemble at the entrance to the Tham Luang cave complex
AP
A Thai student shows an image of her classmate Panumas Sangdee, who is one of 13 members of a soccer team trapped
EPA
Buddhist monk Kruba Boonchum visits the site to perform religious rituals
Getty Images
A relative shows a picture of the boys after they were found on 2 July
AFP/Getty Images
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha visits the site
REUTERS
A rescue team stands in the entrance to the cave
AP
British cave-divers (from left to right) Richard William Stanton, Robert Charles Harper and John Volanthen join the rescue effort
AFP/Getty Images
Divers prepare for the rescue mission
EPA
A rescuer enters the cave
AP
The father of one of the missing boys thanks soldiers after the boys are found
AFP/Getty Images
Relatives celebrate after they hear that the boys have been found
AFP/Getty Images
Relatives pray after they hear that the boys have been found
Getty Images
Relatives celebrate after they hear that the boys have been found
AFP/Getty Images
General Bancha Duriyaphan announces the news to the press
Getty Images
With the rescue mission still ongoing, Thai soldiers carry equipment into the cave
EPA
With the rescue mission still ongoing, Thai soldiers carry equipment into the cave
EPA
Water is being pumped out of the flooded cave complex in an effort to make the rescue easier
Getty Images
Rescue workers prepare oxygen tanks for the rescue mission. It is thought that the boys may have to be taught how to dive in order to escape the cave
EPA
Another wrote: “Tell Coach Ake: Don’t think too much. We are not angry at him.”
The boys are currently on a rock shelf in a small chamber of the Tham Luang cave system about 2.5 miles from the mouth. A huge international military and civilian operation attempting to bring them back to safety was given fresh urgency on Saturday when it was revealed oxygen levels may be falling.
But, with the only way to reach the team being via dark and tight passageways filled with muddy water and strong currents, any rescue will be potentially deadly – both for the boys and for the rescuers themselves.