From Mr. T to Messi to Trump: The world is sending encouragement to Chiang Rai

As the extraction of the “Wild Boar” soccer team members from flood Luang Cave continues, words of encouragement have been arriving from all corners of the globe, including social media shoutouts from the White House and Hollywood while the world waits for updates.

But before we move on to celebrities and world leaders, we must applaud Japan’s Broadcast news program Hiruobi for the lengths their hosts went to in trying to explain the cave’s interior via this live demonstration — in a suit, no less.

In the spirit of the ongoing World Cup, Narisroj Fuangrabil, Thai Ambassador to Argentina, posted a short video of famed footballer Lionel Messi assuring the kids that, “juntos es posible,” or in English, “together [it] is possible.”

Last night, while extraction of the kids was underway, meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also weighed in with a tweet — his preferred method of public communication — unsurprisingly managing to turn it into a self-administered pat-on-the-back.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, as good as his original online offer on Friday, continues brainstorming ideas via Twitter as he also discusses solutions separately with Thai authorities. Though it’s unclear if he’ll ultimately be involved in any pragmatic fashion, Musk recently showed off Space X’s construction of a “tiny, kid-sized submarine” made from Falcon 9 rocket parts — while nodding to his tunnel construction company Boring Co.’s expertise at “digging holes” and “ground penetrating radar.”

Musk additionally praised the “bravery, resilience & tenacity of kids & diving team” adding that it is “human character at its best.”

American actor and one-time WrestleMania star Mr. T may have been out of the limelight in recent years, but he is all over the rescue operation, having tweeted eight updates on the mission since July 2 (complete with Bible verses!). Seriously, he’s straight up adorable. It’s hard to believe we were afraid of him the first time we saw Rocky III.

Three-time Academy Award nominee and acting triple crowner (Oscar, Emmy, and Tony) Viola Davis, meanwhile, has also apparently been keeping up with Thailand’s mission, and joined in last night’s digital celebrations of the four boys’ successful retrieval.

Also from Hollywood (and the West End, for anyone else acquitted with theater), Welsh actor and heartthrob Luke Evans, expresses “relief” after receiving news about the four rescued boys.

And of course true to Thailand’s intense English Premiere League Football fandom, Manchester United chimes in on the support. On their official Facebook page, they write “Manchester United sends strength to all authorities involved in the rescue and retrieval mission to bring the 13 boys (MU fan clubs) out of the cave safety”. But also decided to make the post only visible for Thai people. Halfhearted or not, I guess it’s support right?

Photo: Facebook/ Manchester United

 



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