Thai team trapped in cave receives medical assistance

By Adem Salvarcioglu

MAE SAI, Thailand (AA) – A Thai youth football team and their coach, who have been trapped in a flooded cave in northern Thailand for nine days, received medical support Tuesday.

Rear Admiral Apagorn Youkonggaew, head of the Thai navy's special forces who coordinates search and rescue teams, said during a press conference that a team of seven, including a doctor and a nurse, joined the missing group in the cave in Chiang Rai province

"They have been fed with easy-to-digest, high-energy food with vitamins and minerals under the supervision of a doctor," he said.

Youkonggaew said they will not rush to get the group out as the children's health and safety are a priority.

Narongsak Osatanakorn, governor of Chiang Rai, said the boys would need to learn to swim and dive from the rescue teams to ensure a safe rescue.

The water level in the cave is not expected to subside anytime soon as the region will be under steady rainfall for the next two months due to the monsoon season.

The governor also said the teams are trying to reduce the water level with drainage pumps and a land survey outside the cave was conducted to find air gaps that could provide an alternative exit.

On June 23, the group of 12 boys aged 11-16 and their 25-year-old coach disappeared after they visited the Tham Luang Nang Non cave following a football training session.

Search and rescue teams found the missing group nine days after they were trapped in the cave due to heavy rainfall and rising waters.