“Everyone is around cleaning up. Where we were all these headlights started coming over the hill. There were 100 guys running down the hill.

“The pumps failed and the water in the sumps had started rising,” said a diver. Fortunately everyone got out on time.

Rescue teams had already been on edge after the tragic death of Saman Kunan, 38, a former Navy Seal diver who had suffocated underwater last Friday while delivering air tanks along the treacherous escape route.

Narongsak Osottanakorn, governor of Chiang Rai province, where the cave are located, on Tuesday night called Mr Kunan the "real hero of Tham Luang". On Wednesday it was announced that a monument will be built in his honour outside the cave.

A German paramedic who had worked with an elite team of British divers who had spearheaded the mission and initially discovered the boys last Monday night, gave the Telegraph a glimpse of the trauma the rescuers had had to endure.

“The hardest bit was when our team member died,” he said. “The water levels were up and down. We had to dive, we had to climb,” added the paramedic who did not wish to be named.