And then there were five.
After a nine-hour operation, four more members of the “Wild Boars” youth soccer team were this evening brought out of flooded Luang Cave in Chiang Rai and taken to a local hospital for treatment, provincial governor Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters just moments ago.
“We’ve helped four more boys,” he said. “All four boys were flown to the hospital. They’re safe.”
While yesterday’s rescue operation, which also freed four soccer players, took approximately 11 hours, the same operation was repeated with greater efficiency today, Narongsak said.
“Today, we spent only about 9 hours — 2 hours faster than yesterday.”
Saying that “18 divers went in,” he predicted it will go even more smoothly tomorrow.
The four newly freed boys will now presumably enter a 24-hour quarantine period as was imposed on the four extracted yesterday. At press time, it was unclear if the first four had yet been able to meet with family members.
Earlier today, Dr. Thongchai Lertwilailak, an inspector for Thailand’s Health Department, told local media that the earliest they would have been able to see family was this evening, and even then, they would be prohibited from making physical contact.
Now, just four more “Wild Boards” and their 25-year-old coach remain. But precisely when the final push to extricate those five will begin remains uncertain.
Asked if all five remaining in the cave will be out tomorrow, Governor Narongsak refused to answer, saying he can’t guarantee when the next attempt will be made and that it depends on weather conditions and whether or not they have to “adjust the plan.”
Still, Maj. Gen. Bancha Duriyapan, an army general overseeing the rescue efforts, was optimistic that the finish line was now in site, and – possibly taking into account the time required for medical checkups – offered a prediction.
“Give us three more days and all of the Boars will greet the outside world,” he said.
