This was published 7 years ago
The "Wild Boar" soccer team and their coach are all out of the cave, but the story is not over yet - with Hollywood already taking an interest in the tale.
Thanks for keeping us company throughout this incredible rollercoaster! That's it for the live blog, but stay tuned to our homepage for further updates on this story as they come.
You can also read up on what we learned today about these strong young boys and their inspiring rescuers – who almost didn't make it out of the cave.
This morning, the Prime Minister spoke with the heroic Australian Federal Police divers and Adelaide doctor Richard Harris, who played a central role in the rescue and tragically learned his father passed away on Tuesday night.
The PM has posted a video of their conversation, where he thanks them for their "extraordinary work" and says they have done Australia proud.
"You've inspired the world, you've inspired the nation," he said.
Asking to speak with Dr Harris, Mr Turnbull said "we know it's a tough time for you at the moment, so lots of love there."
One of the most important people in Fairfax’s coverage of the Thai cave rescue has been our fixer/translator and driver, Akkarawat 'Art' Taokwang.
After joining our team late on Tuesday night, eight days ago, Art has worked 14-18 hour days every day since – and always with a smile on his face, willing to go the extra mile.
His live translations of the daily press conferences have been so good, journalists from international media – including the Times and Sunday Times of London and European outlets like Repubblica – have hung on his every word. He has also been interviewed by Thai TV network MCOT9 about his work.
Incredibly, it’s his first time working as a fixer – though nearly 15 years ago he had short stint working as a translator for US forces based in Thailand.
Local news site Khaosod English has spoken to a man who owns several water pumps, which they say he drove 12 hours to donate the 24/7 use of. These water pumps were instrumental to the mission's success – as we know some of the pumps failed shortly after the final Navy SEAL evacuated the cave, forcing more than 100 rescue workers to flee the cave complex.
"It was a race against nature," the man says. Watch the full interview below.
One of the most amazing things about this rescue mission has been the way so many people, from local villagers to international experts, have pitched in to make the impossible happen.
The Thai Navy SEALs, who kept the world updated and morale high with their social media posts, have again taken to Facebook this afternoon to acknowledge the work put in by all involved.
"Appreciate great helps from all teams – divers from all over the world, medic teams, several ex-SEALs, supporting teams, Kruba Boonchum and other spiritual teams, great kitchen team, oxygen refueling team, water management team, electricity team, mountain climbing team, all genitors, Mae Sai people, and people from all corners of the world," the SEALs wrote.
"Today the united force of humanity is at work. The world will never forget this rescue mission."
A father of one of the 12 boys who was trapped in Tham Luang cave for more than two weeks has said he cannot wait to hug his son.
Speaking to CNN, Adisak Wongsukchan said he had spent 16 days worrying about his son, 14-year-old Akarat Wongsukchan, and he was "so happy and appreciative" of the rescue effort.
"I want to hug him... and I want to tell him that I'm happy," Wongsukchan said.
While his son was rescued on Monday night, Wongsukchan said he went back on Tuesday to support the other parents and the large team of volunteers.
Watch the full interview here.
Our colleague Akkarawat 'Art' Taokwang was at this morning's press conference at the Chiang Rai hospital and has translated the key points from Dr Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, an inspector from the Ministry of Public Health:
- The health of the last group of boys and the coach is fine
- One of the boys shows signs of pneumonia but doctors are not concerned. All of them have higher leukocyte (white blood cell) levels than normal, but they have got antibiotics.
- Overall, both physically and mentally, all of the most recently rescued group are in good condition
- The three SEALs and Thai doctor are fine as well
- The first group's relatives are now allowed to meet them, but still have to wear protection gowns
- The second group's relations will be allowed to meet them today
Good news!
Australians involved in the rescue effort have just spoken to media in Chiang Rai about their success, and the difficulty of the mission.
A total of 20 Australians including six AFP divers assisted with the rescue. Commander Glenn McEwen from the Australian Federal Police team said it was "by far" the most difficult mission his team had undertaken. The biggest challenge? Moving approximately 20 tonnes of equipment.
He also spoke about the pride the team felt in being a part of a rescue effort where people from all over the world are working together to save lives.
"It's amazing what people can do... when everyone steps up, egos are put aside, get on with it."
We now know that the rescue effort was moments away from going horribly wrong.
James Massola writes: More than 100 rescue workers were forced to flee the Tham Luang cave just after 10pm on Tuesday, moments after the final Thai Navy SEAL who had stayed with the "Wild Boars" soccer team and their coach was free - after the pumps holding back floodwaters failed.
The international team of volunteers - including the widely-praised Australians - were of course not the only people involved in the massive rescue effort in north-western Thailand.
The Thai Navy SEALs are the most well-known local members of the rescue group, but a large contingent of local volunteers also played a critical but under-recognised role.
Every day up to 60 volunteers - some not much older than the trapped boys - took on the dangerous task of stopping water from leaking into the Tham Luang cave system.
Thawatchai's group, and many more based in clusters of hillside villages, climbed up steep jungle slopes to plug holes and lay pipes to divert heavy water flows into the cave.
"We have to do something to help the rescue. The boys are young, they were pursuing adventure. We should not judge them," local village leader Niwag Thamrongtatsanai said before all the boys were rescued.
Read the full article here.