Health of all 12 youngsters and their coach has improved, says government minister

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Twelve Thai boys and their football coach rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand are recovering well and will be discharged from hospital next week, the health minister has said.

The last of the 12-member Wild Boars team and their coach were brought out of the Tham Luang cave, near the border with Myanmar, on Tuesday night.

The boys and their coach have been in hospital since then.

In a video played at a news conference on Saturday, they appeared well, sitting up in bed, and thanking their rescuers. “I am in good health now,” said a 14-year-old nicknamed Note. “Thanks for saving me.”

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The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach had planned to explore the cavern complex for about an hour after football practice on 23 June. But a downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them. Two British divers found them on 2 July, squatting on a mound in a flooded chamber two miles inside the complex.

All 13 were brought to safety over the course of three days, rescued by Thai navy Seals and an international team of cave-diving experts.

Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, the health minister, told reporters the health of all 13 had improved. Some had pneumonia when they were brought out of the cave but were recovering. All would be discharged from hospital in the northern town of Chiang Rai on Thursday.