What followed for the Thai cave rescue team members
The tale of Duangpetch Promthep and 11 other young Thai footballers captivated the world in June 2018.
A diving team recruited from around the world attempted to rescue the Wild Boars team from the Tham Luang cave for more than two weeks, leaving the squad’s fate in limbo.
The boys and their coach were drugged with ketamine and taken.
After nearly three weeks of following their plight, international news organisations scoured the team’s experience for every nuance.
The players consented to a six-part Netflix documentary series in 2019, following a deal purportedly inked by the Thai government in which each child’s family received $94,000 (£72,000). The programme premiered last year.
Separately, the 2022 movie Thirteen Lives, directed by Ron Howard and starring Colin Farrell, came out.
The youngest of the boys, Chanin “Titan” Wibunrungrueang, told the BBC last year that he had found the post-rescue attention to be difficult.
It was quite challenging at first, and I had to adjust, he said. “Many people were aware of me, but I didn’t know how to act… When I was in front of the camera, I felt tense.
Titan continues to play football with an academy managed by Ekkapol Chantawong, the coach who was trapped with the youngsters, four years later.
Mr. Chantawong was only 25 years old at the time. He was a former monk who taught the boys meditation techniques to help them stay calm and consume less air.
Despite being born in Thailand, Mr. Chantawong and three of his players, including Monkol Boonpiam.
Adul Sam-On was one of the wild boars and one of the stateless people.
Adul, the only member of the group who could communicate in English, met the international diving team as they entered the cave and informed his teammates of their instructions.
According to Mr. Go, the guys are choosing their own paths. “Some people will continue their education, while others watch football. They continue to communicate via chat and text, exchanging stories.
One of Adul’s teammates, Phonchai Khamluang, played professional football with Chiangrai Lanna in Thailand’s third division, according to his Instagram.
