Boy who survived Thai cave rescue dies in UK

1 year ago 35
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 Twelve boys from the "Wild Boars" soccer team and a Thai Navy SEAL (Right) speak during a press conference for the first time since they were rescued from a cave in northern Thailand last week, on July 18, 2018 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach were discharged early from Chiang Rai Prachanukroh hospital after a speedy recovery and thanked those involved in their rescue. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images)Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Duangpetch Promthep (front, second from left) was the captain of Thai football team dramatically rescued from a cave in 2018

By Jonathan Head and Kelly Ng

BBC News

Duangpetch Promthep, one of the 12 boys who was rescued from a Thai cave in 2018, has died in the UK.

The cause of the death is unclear, but the teenager is reported to have sustained a head injury.

He enrolled in the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester late last year when he was 17.

He was the captain of the Thai boys' football team, which was trapped along with their coach for two weeks while exploring in the Chiang Rai province.

Promthep's mother has informed the Wat Doi Wao temple in his home town in Chiang Rai, which the team frequented. Some of his teammates from the cave rescue have also shared the news on their social media accounts.

The temple posted condolences to Promthep - also known as Dom - on Facebook on Wednesday. "May Dom's soul rest in peace," said the post, which was accompanied by pictures of the football team with monks.

Zico Foundation, a Thai non-profit that had helped Promthep win a scholarship to study in England, also expressed condolences on Facebook.

Promthep was part of the Wild Boars (Moo Pa in Thai) football team, that had ventured into the Tham Luang cave on 23 June 2018 and was later trapped by rising flood waters.

Promthep was 13 then, while his teammates were aged between 11 and 16.

The boys and their coach emerged two weeks later, after a dramatic search and rescue effort involving nearly 100 Thai and foreign divers.

Tham Luang is Thailand's fourth biggest cave system and was one of the team's favourite haunts.

The rescue made headlines around the world, and various films and books have been made on the story.

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