Thailand cave rescue

Thai boys go home after 'miracle' rescue from cave

Dressed in football fatigues and looking healthy, the "Wild Boars" football team spoke of their "miracle" rescue at a news conference on Wednesday, their first public appearance since getting trapped. 

The survivors said they had no food, with one team member saying they "drank water that fell from the rocks" until rescuers discovered them.

"We tried to dig out as we thought we cannot only wait for authorities to get us," coach Ekkapol Chantawong told reporters in Chiang Rai, a city in northern Thailand.

World leaders congratulate rescue mission of 12 Thai boys and coach

The last five survivors of the ordeal were brought out safely by the rescue team on Tuesday (Jul 10), joining eight others who were rescued in a similarly risky mission on Sunday and Monday.

United States President Donald Trump tweeted his congratulations: "On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand. Such a beautiful moment - all freed, great job!," he said.

Boys and football coach free from Tham Luang

Their plight and the massive, dangerous three-day-long operation to free them gripped the world's attention.

The group was cut off on 23 June after heavy rains flooded their way back out.

They were found by British divers last week, huddled in darkness on a ledge amid fears they could be forced to stay there for months until water receded.

There were cheers as a daring rescue operation involving dozens of divers and hundreds of other rescue workers came to an end on Tuesday evening.

Divers ready to save remaining five Thais

The health of the four boys and their football coach is said to be good as they ready to be guided through the narrow flooded passages of the complex.

Eight boys have been brought out of the caves over the past two days.

The operation inside the Tham Luang caves has attracted global attention.

The group became trapped on 23 June after heavy rains caused flooding. They were found last week by divers.

How are the rescued boys?

The eight boys have not been seen in public, but have been pronounced to be in reasonable health.