The Wild Boars soccer team made an appearance at Tham Luang in northernmost Thailand Thursday morning to pay their respects to their rescuers on the fourth anniversary of their world-renowned ordeal.
Seven of the 13 boys of the Wild Boar soccer team, whose rescue after 17 days trapped in the cave drew global interest, made alms to 39 monks at the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park in anticipation of its Oct. 1 reopening.
Those in attendance also paid their respects to Saman Kunan, the Navy Seal who came out of retirement to aid in the rescue and drowned while helping to prepare the operation.
The park is currently closed as national park officials make the cave safer for visiting, including a 2-kilometer road link to the park’s emerald pool.
Four years ago today, the 12 young footballers and their coach disappeared inside Tham Luang after practice. Before long, their bicycles and belongings were found left at the entrance, kicking off a massive effort that drew the help of amateur cave diving experts from around the world.
Heavy rainfall had caused the cave to flood, trapping the team in darkness deep inside the cave complex.
It took 17 days for rescue teams to get the team out safely in a perilous rescue mission that gripped the world. A film based on the incident was released in 2019.
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