On Sunday, the first phase of the rescue to free the young soccer players trapped in Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand ended well with four boys being bought out.
Another mission was launched on Monday to get the remaining eight boys and their coach out, but a lot depends on the monsoon rains expected in the area and the conditions inside the flooded cave.
The story of the trapped players and their coach, meanwhile, saw a global outpouring of hope and affection. People from across the world took to Twitter to express their support for the boys, to praise the courage of the divers led by the Thai Navy SEALs and discuss how dangerous the rescue mission must be.
People on social media also paid homage to the indomitable spirit of the trapped boys as well as retired Thai Navy SEAL Saman Gunan, who died in the cave while delivering oxygen tanks along the route.
The resilient young
Let’s put the #ThaiCaveRescue in perspective:
1) The 12 boys were trapped without food, clean water, and sunlight for 10 days
2) They had to learn cave-diving 101 in 5 days
3) The underwater journey takes 3 grueling hoursThis is the epitome of resilience.
— Zen Chang (@ZenChangLaw) July 8, 2018
The challenges ahead
Cave diving is a monster.
Open water: bright, well lit ocean floor, low current, pretty fish, low risk of death. Problem? Gently ascend and go to your boat.
Cave diving: dark, muddy tunnels, medium to high current. You are kicking and breathing so hard you get headaches— Puff, probably a real person (@Where_is_Puff) July 9, 2018
Now put boys weak from starvation, on the verge of panic from the pressure of life and death, THEN flood that cave.
That’s what they’re doing right now
Teaching these boys to scuba, follow a thin gold line on minimal training and hope they don’t kill their rescuers— Puff, probably a real person (@Where_is_Puff) July 9, 2018
A touch of the World Cup
🤞for the remaining boys and the assistant coach for their safe return and of course for them to watch the world cup final..Come on Wild Boars!!We all waiting for you ❤❤.. You can do this 💪🏽#thaicaverescue
— Ann Marie Ignatius (@ann_marie_ignat) July 9, 2018
For the first time in history, the entire world is rooting for the same football team. #ThaiCaveRescue
— Camila Cunha (@lindaelora03) July 8, 2018
One for the heroes
I hope everyone takes a moment today to remember Saman Gunan, the Thai Navy Seal that died making sure the kids stuck in the cave had enough oxygen so that today’s rescue would even be possible. #ThaiCaveRescue pic.twitter.com/LkhGmBXOAl
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) July 8, 2018
He has kept the boys alive, and calm the whole time,
gave them his food, making him weak, and
will be the last out of the cave, most
importantly he is only 25, he is so young and
has done so well. Ekapol the coach youre true wild boar. #ThaiCaveRescue #ChiangRai pic.twitter.com/vi5hAUvVyT— Taqiuddin (@amdtqd) July 9, 2018
Volunteers showed up early to fix breakfast at the #ThaiCaveRescue site… pic.twitter.com/P9o5DnhHWb
— John Lundin 🌊 (@johnlundin) July 9, 2018
Artwork, with love
The coach taught the boys to meditate and conserve their energy, as well as giving them his share of the food and water. There’s no doubt that this will have saved their lives. #ThaiCaveRescue #ThaiCaveBoys pic.twitter.com/1TTCpbkBdQ
— Labyrinth (@Daggie_M) July 9, 2018
World claps after 4 children our safe #ThaiCaveRescue pic.twitter.com/3fGfIrQZrv
— Fabrice Veesler (@FabSiam) July 9, 2018
Praying for the boys and the heroes helping them #thaicaverescue pic.twitter.com/u9f1CQJp8B
— Gina Kiroff (@GKiroff) July 8, 2018