CHIANG RAI (REUTERS) - Twelve Thai boys rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand will be discharged from hospital on Thursday (July 19), health minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said on Saturday (July 14).
The last group of the 12-member "Wild Boars" soccer team and their coach was brought out of the Tham Luang cave, near the border with Myanmar, on Tuesday night, safely ending a dangerous rescue and evoking international relief and joy.
The 12 and their coach are recovering both physically and mentally and will be discharged from hospital on Thursday, July 19, Piyasakol told reporters.
"We need to prepare both the children and their families for the attention they will receive when they come out," he said.
In a video played at a news conference on Saturday (July 14), they appeared well, sitting up in bed, and thanking their rescuers.
"I am in good health now," said one of the boys, a 14-year-old nicknamed Note. "Thanks for saving me."
The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach had planned to explore the cavern complex for about an hour after soccer practice on June 23. But a rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them.
Two British divers found them on July 2, squatting on a mound in a flooded chamber several kilometres inside the complex.
Then the problem became how to get them back out through the tunnels, some completely full of fast-flowing flood water.
All 13 were brought to safety over the course of a three-day rescue, organised by Thai navy SEALs and an international team of cave-diving experts.
Piyasakol told reporters the health of all 13 had improved. Some had pneumonia when they were brought out of the cave but were recovering, he said.
All will be discharged from hospital in the northern town of Chiang Rai on Thursday (July 12), he said.
CRISPY PORK
Some of the group had lost as much as five kilograms but had regained some of the weight, and their appetites, in hospital, Piyasakol said.
"I want to have crispy pork rice and barbecue pork rice," 15-year-old Pipat Photi said in the video.
"I want pork knuckle rice, said 13-year-old Duangpetch Promtep. "Thank you for all the moral support."
Others said they were craving sushi.
Adul Sam-on, 14, who spoke English when their group was first found by two British divers, said: "I'm better. I'd like to have KFC."
But while the group is in good health, they still face challenges.
One concern has been how they will deal with the fame, given the huge attention, both from within Thailand and beyond, on the case.
The story is already set for a retelling by Hollywood, with two production companies looking to put together movies about the boys and their rescue.
"We need to prepare both the children and their families for the attention they will receive when they come out," Piyasakol said.
He warned relatives of the boys to resist giving interviews to media over fears they could have a negative impact on their mental health.
"Everyone has worked well together to bring the children out. We worked well together then and we should work well together now so the children can recover physically and mentally as they grow up," Piyasakol said.
