I hope I don't sound entirely ignorant here, BUT, is there a GoFundMe set up to help these lovely, strong kids in their pursuit of future education, sport, etc. ? Don't know how that works internationally, but it seems a worthy cause.
10
“The happiest morning,” one user wrote.
“Thank you so much to everyone in every organization and every country involved in this operation,” another wrote. “You are the real heroes.”
Then Mr. Trump puts his thumb in it proclaiming that “his” USA team was there on site to “lead and support” the rescue efforts — read “standing by for advice if needed” — while UK took the lead for Western efforts. Then Mr. Trumpet proclaims that the way for other children to escape his child snatching clutches is, “to never attempt to enter illegally in the first place . . . “
Go Figure . . . A Tale of Two Parallel Worlds,
“These are the best of times and the worst of times”
And Never Shall the Twain Meet.
7
Anyone else notice Chiang Rai is is the Golden Triangle?
Just realised. Funny!
Twelve boys and their coach spend twelve days in the dark womb of the earth. The coach, trained in Buddhist meditation teaches the boys to use meditation as a technique to calm their minds each day and even as they leave in treacherous circumstances. The one boy who can speak English is himself a sort of refugee who receives free tuition and lunch because he so bright and capable. It is this boy who translates for the whole group. No one got really sick. They are still together, supporting each other. No one is arguing that the coach is to blame. Instead they focus on his bravery and leadership. Not one boy died under his care. The rescuers were kind, highly skilled for sure, but also simply kind. I am tempted to say many of us could use twelve days in the womb of a dark cave -meditating on this beautiful life, this beautiful earth, and how we treat each other. What a lovely gift this has been. Wrapped in scary paper for sure, but a lovely gift all the same.
23
Heroism. Not simply because the rescue divers were brave, but because they could reassure frightened children and lead them to find within themselves the bones to do a difficult and dangerous thing.
7
The Thai soccer team story, has effected the entire soccer community, especially because the World Cup is in full swing. These boys not only demonstrated courage and bravery, they also exemplified teamwork. Of course, teamwork should not be something new, after all this is a soccer team. Yet, in a generation where technology and prosperity is highlighted, this situation illustrates the need for world wide cooperation. Take for example, the people who discovered the boys, two British divers. Secondly, the amount of people involved in the rescue, including the Thai government and a team of Elon Musk’s engineers. Thus, this story is incredibly and vitally important because it unified a large mass of people for the same cause. One onlooker can only exclaim ‘thank god’ in response to the boys rescue, with their health in rather superb condition considering the circumstances. Certainly, a large majority of the praise must belong to the coach of the Wild Boars soccer team. The coach was able to keep his team alive, and as the only adult he must have felt the responsibility from the families of the boys. Gracefully speaking, he is one of the true heroes of this story. The rescue of these boys is allowing the world to take a giant breath of relief. Soccer truly does unify the world, and this story is just an example of the passion the sport brings.
3
I am still amazed that the main pump draining the cave didn't fail until all the boys and rescuers were safely out.
Tell me: random chance or Something Else?
4
"Dr. Thongchai said the team would be monitored for two weeks, the second week at home, and that the boys had not yet been allowed to play — but they are sharing the same room and can talk with each other from their hospital beds."
Earlier, on BBC, I heard comments by a British psychologist about their "rehabilitation" back in society.
As a medical and mental health professional, my thoughts in few words: Arrange "Transitional" group living for a brief time between their stay at the hospital and their homes, coupled with increasing interaction with the loved ones. ( Call it Acclimatization; "Depressurization"--?!)
1
Such wonderful news. It makes one weep for joy!
2
I notice the seal at the top wears a halo. Mahalo
brave hero. May his sacrifice be honored amid the well deserved celebrations for this magnificent rescue!
6
The entire Thai nation rallied around these boys. They were saved. A wonderful result. Should not we Americans do the same for the children in our midst who wait in cages,
separated from their families?
17
Wonderful! A beautiful, positive story just when we needed one. Bravo to all.
4
I am grateful for the deep levels of expertise and attention to skill training brought to the moment by all the responders who worked on this rescue. I'm also thinking about the ability of highly skilled people from many disciplines and institutions to work and plan together effectively. It is a welcomed respite to feel respect and gratitude for all involved in the rescue.
8
The young Thai footballers and the coach entrapped in the cave took care of each other and displayed a rare sense of courage and confidence speaks volumes about the quality of human endurance and zest of life amid extreme pressure and adversity.
8
I can only echo the thoughts of many others but at a time when the world is in so much turmoil, it's wonderful to have such a great outcome. It could have been an absolute tragedy but for the heroics of many people from many nations. Congratulations to all involved and a special tribute to the Thai navy seal who gave his life to save the boys and their coach. The best news story of the year so far!
14
What a great ending to a tough story and marked by a heroic navy diver. Hopefully this serves as a reminder of what we are all capable of contributing and helping those with no expectation of anything. Thousands of people volunteered, many risked their lives, neighbors gave up their fields, and thousands of dollars were spent. Imagine what we can do for the many that aren’t in caves though need us as much as those kids did.
17
We read that there was concern that while in the cave the boys might have contracted an infection such as leptospirosis, or histoplasmosis (from bats or other animals) yet I read in a separate story that one of the British cavers had said he saw no bats. It seems to me far more likely that any infection would have had its origin in the lack of toilet facilities. No mention has been made of this, but they were all sitting in a very small space; they had to have urinated and defecated close by (and in the dark, too).
6
Amazing amazing.
But I’m totally confused by the mask wearing and separation from people I.e. quarantining. It makes no sense and is highly unlikely to be necessary.
5
Probably Ketamine. Safe.
l concur. I am an emergency physician and infectious disease specialist. None of what they are doing has any basis in the medical literature. Especially giving them antibiotics for just a high white blood cell count alone. They were in a cave, not deep in Ebola country. For Goddsakes...get them with their parents and families and out of an 18th century hospital ward.
Let's hope FIFA or just regular decent folks out there can donate some proper equipment for these boys, new soccer balls, goal posts, etc. This miracle may be the spark that sends a national Thai soccer team to the next World Cup for the first time. Get well boys!
8
Petty Officer Saman Gunan: Let's not forget his contribution to this wonderful moment that the World rightfully celebrates. He gave his life to the boys and their coach. When I read about the boys, I think about how how Gunan must have felt terrible panic and desperation knowing that he would die underwater in that cave. All of those divers are heroes.
23
I hope they will allow the boys and their coach to recover from this ordeal in a natural way. The rush to medicate children has long range, damaging effects. They probably needed anesthetizing for the journey out of the cave, but it shouldn't be necessary now, and if they have nightmares, waking them and reassuring them that they are safe should be the way to go. Repressing the memories with drugs could cause the ordeal to stay with them much longer. They are children, they had each other and their heroic coach to get them through, and they will be fine.
For those who are proposing the ridiculous idea that the coach should be charged with wrongdoing, get real. They went into a dry cave and when the water came flooding in they had no choice but to go deeper to find a place to shelter. He had no way of knowing that the cave would flood.
15
Once again, I will repeat myself - the world is actually full of heroes - all sizes and shapes, sexes and colors. My most humble blessings to the divers in Northern Thailand who went where others could not - and did what most thought impossible. A rescue and act of human courage that keeps my faith. Thank you Thai and international rescue workers.
Image may contain: 2 people, people standing and outdoor
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I've studied this picture several times. I can say that after caretaking my mom at an emergency room in a Bronx hospital for three days because there were no beds available earlier this year, I'm impressed at how clean this hospital ward is.
26
Will authorities allow the team to watch the soccer World cup semi finals and finals? They were looking so much forward to that since the cave. It seems it would be a great boost to their spirit to be able to watch those games. They seem dead in the aseptic not stimulating artificial institutional environment in which they find themselves in that video. There is not one book, object, or distraction in that ward. They will not flourish there. Hope they can be freed soon. Maybe they are being held for interrogation by the military before they go home.
7
It's just a few days. You can catch a lot of nasty things in dank caves, especially when you're starving. They need to be sure they are healthy - and that if they did catch anything nasty, they don't transmit it to others. Besides, you don't know that they have no books. They are obviously being shielded from electronic media until they are out of the woods health-wise, but I imagine they have books.
4
I am happy to see that the boys are safe and healthy.
But there is something that has puzzled me from the beginning and I hope someone could explain. For the time period that they were stuck in the cave deep inside the mountain, where did their oxygen come from? I would of thought that their oxygen would of run out from being trapped.
4
Caves naturally have oxygen that comes in through crevasses and cracks. But the confined space and rising water was depleting it.
1
They were not unconscious. They were sedated. HUGE difference. Would have been extremely dangerous to anesthetize them giving their vital signs.
3
I heard on NPR this morning that each of the boys was heavily sedated and strapped on a board that could be pulled by pullies in the ceiling, at different points. I was so grateful to hear that the boys were not really conscious of their journey. On some level, the body/mind will remember and I hope that they will work, in their own ways, with that sense memory. But I was so panicked to feel THEIR possible panic going through the cold, wet, tight dark.
I am so grateful to the doctor(s) who did this. There seemed to be some hesitation around speaking about this. I think it was absolutely the correct thing to do.
Is it a miracle or is it science that achieved this outcome? The miracle is that we humans can use our creative mind to solve such a problem. And then the second part - the bravery and goodness showed to the boys and by the boys - is giving us all hope to face our own difficult journeys.
And to the Thai Seal who lost his life and his family - thank you.
43
can you post a link? I am not surprised that they were sedated, but the board? and pulleys? I could not find that on NPR.
3
My dentist gives me an anti-anxiety pill before surgeries and I just have to sit in a warm chair and look at the ceiling. So I can understand that they would give them something to provide comfort in face of real anxiety. Bravo to the doctors for doing this. In a sense they were being reborn out of the cave and birth is a little stressful.
6
I heard it on the BBC via NPR. Here in Maine it's on at 9:00 AM and it was about 9:45 that I heard it Wednesday morning.
So, is it true? That the rescuers made the youths unconscious with sedatives, then transported them on stretchers that the rescuers guided through the watery caves? Well, regardless: thank god they are all safe.
12
I've read a lot of articles and briefs from the press conferences. They were not made unconscious, in any way. They were given anti-anxiety medication, because panic can be deadly in a situation like this.
They were essentially towed out with the diver in front holding their oxygen tanks, swimming as much as they were able.
But I hope these rumors of being made unconscious are put to rest soon. That would be quite dangerous - and is not what happened, according to all reputable reports.
5
If this was an American incident, all the boys and their coach would have been bankrupt (or their families) - because health care would have been prohibitive and the Govt and Hospitals etc would have given each boy a multi million dollar bill. Thank God this was not in the US eh?
60
Ha ha! Good one! Make America great again?
I guess in Thailand the military cost would have have been absorbed by the Ministry of Defense and ultimately paid out of public tax revenues. Ditto the public hospital costs. I think no private hospitals were involved, otherwise they could have just written off the expense as CSR Corporate Social Responsibility.
This is the most heartwarming story of the year.Coming as it does after Thailand's next door neighbor Malaysia on May 9 elected a new government that peacefully kicked out a party Umno that had ruled Malaysia for 61 years, it shows that South East Asia has surprising strengths and resilience. 50 years ago, the US was engaged in a deadly war in Vietnam that cost 50,000 American boys their lives (and countless Vietnamese theirs) in a vain attempt to forestall he Domino Theory of world communism spreading there, and then withdrew in 1973. But neither radicalism nor Communism took root. Instead Malaysia and now Thailand's stories show people cooperating to meet and solve common problems with love and great understanding. Put that into your cheeseburgers Mr Trump.
2
A shout out to the Navy Seals, and particularly the Navy Seal doctor who stayed with the team until they were all evacuated. He ( or she) represented the best traditions of military medicine.
28
Amazing rescue and here is my conjecture - we know the boys were wearing multiple wetsuits- Why? well with anesthesia your body temperature can get lowered- this is a common characteristic. The boys were nearly asleep from the videos! It was because they had been given a powerful anesthetic and the reason for the large number of oxygen cylinders was under anesthesia your breathing is reduced - hence the boys needed large amounts of oxygen every few minutes during the initial under water passage. Dr. Harris was there for only 3 days - the last part of the evacuation to administer the anesthesia and the boys kept their full face masks on until they got to the ambulance where they were once again given oxygen. Very smart plan, the navy seal was responsible for holding each boy - and they were towed in part by the first diver - the other divers were changing out the oxygen tanks every 5-10 minutes - this was the only way to get then trough the cave narrow tunnels - it was dark and the boys would of panicked - great plan and great execution
28
The boys were not anesthetized. They wouldn’t have been able to swim out if the cave if they were, and there would be an imense risk they might stop breathing. They were just given a medication that reduces anxiety. That’s all.
2
So will the coach be prosecuted for recklessly causing the death of Mr. Gunan?
2
No he won't. The caves were considered safe to enter until July. A freak early monsoon storm caused a flash flood, and because they couldn't swim, they retreated. But because the storms kept coming they had to keep retreating.
9
Really? That's what you get out of this? Why is it so important to you to blame someone? It's not going to bring Mr. Gunan back and it brings no honor to his memory. Hopefully those who do the official investigation into this incident will be more interested in what happened and how to prevent it from happening again than they are in scapegoating someone. But you don't live there, you don't know the facts and you don't have standing to judge anyone.
19
A wonderful and inspiring story that in a cynical age renews everyone's beliefs in heroism and humanity. Just one small sad observation - some comments, even here, try to make political points. Let us just try to appreciate the bravery and sacrifice of so many good people who accomplished a miracle.
27
Everyone has been following this story since it has started and are now relieved knowing that all 12 boys and their coach are all safe. They may not all be completely healthy yet, but they are getting there and that is the important thing. Keeping them in quarantine will protect them as well as their family from diseases they may have caught in the cave. All of these boys were so brave and staying courageous throughout this experience helped them and those who were with them. I would have freaked out if I were in their shoes and who knows what would have happened then. The one thing I am wondering is what will happen to the coach. I wonder if he will get arrested. I just hope whatever happens, the boys stay healthy and safe.
5
You need to learn more about that coach and the many strategies he employed that helped the boys get through this ordeal. Among them were making sure they all had enough food to sustain them, even when it meant giving them his own. He is, in many ways, a hero.
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No he is not a hero. He caused the whole situation which resulted in the death of a rescue worker. He is a fool who should face prosecution.
The coach will not be arrested, I feel sure. This is Thailand, not the USA. He showed incredible crisis leadership in keeping the boys calm, not allowing them to lose hope, teaching them to meditate to relieve stress... There is a short article in the WaPo Biz section about crisis leadership & the coach was used as an example of what leaders in times of crisis need to do. The monsoon came early and there is no way he could have known the early rains would come. I feel certain he'll remain a hero to all of them.
13
After several weeks of watching United States rip children from their parents, throw them in cages on concrete floors like animals, resist having any concerns for their mental, emotional or physical health, it was such a wonderful change to see people from all over the world, different races, different religions, different beliefs, different skin colors,coming together, risking their lives (and one losing his), against tremendous odds, to save these boys.
I could not help but notice how the people in charge kept the Press far enough away that they could provide privacy for the people being rescued and for the workers. The large white umbrellas prevented cameras from zooming in as boys were transported to emergency vehicles.
We are normally subjected to seeing reporters cram microphones in people's faces when they least expect or want it. The protection of privacy was refreshing.
I have a feeling that the meditation lessons learned from their coach while trapped has helped them much more than is being mentioned.
Seeing all the boys in the same bright, well-lit room to me seems like a way to reassure all of them that they're still together, but now in a happy situation, and to know that all their team members are safe. I would think it would help to erase the memory of being in a dark, hopeless room in a cave.
Over the last few weeks, the comments from the boy's parents and Friends showed love, concern and no anger or blame..... What a beautiful lesson for the world!
68
Such a wonderful ending when one considers that, a few days ago, one of the options being considered was to leave the boys deep in the cave for 3 to 4 months until the waters subsided.
19
This is one of the most heartening stories of the year. All around us, including, or especially in the U.S., we see the horrors of human behaviour. Yet from the little we have learned about these Thai kids and their relatives we have seen so much of the good that some human societies are capable of. Hopefully some really talented writer/reporter will get to interview these boys (and the coach) and find out how they endured and stuck together through this ordeal The whole world can learn from them. Certainly we can learn more from them than from so many of the phoney religious leaders that have been spewing hatred and violent xenophobia in America, the Middle East and south Asia.
27
Yes...this the the story of the year.
It reminds us that there still is hope, kindness and heroic people left in the world.
46
authentic faith, courage, humility
Nary a preachy word or blame. So refreshing to just see humankind doing the right thing, working together and using one's intellect and ingenuity.
There is such an over justification of religion in the US to explain or condemn it is nice to have an example where religion is not abused and flaunted.
4
It seems they are still enduring an ordeal as wards of the state captive in the hospital bed under excessive watch and as if in a fish bowl. Yet, in one scene of the video, nurses open the glass windows that divide the ward from staff and parents and send things (and presumably germs) in so they are not so quarantined after all. I worry about the medical overreaction. The reports are that most of the kids are well but they look catatonic sitting in their beds. Are they drugged? Can they at least walk around? Why are there no books or (sterilized?) electronic devices around to distract them? Do they just sleep, eat and sit for days as if they were still in the cave? There was supposedly a TV in the ward but they were not allowed to watch it. Will they be able to watch the World Cup final football games? This strict regime may be quite psychologically damaging. A case of the remedy being worse than the disease. It may induce more depression than necessary.
3
You have a very active imagination that supplies every possible answer to your own conjectures. This is just ONE photo! These boys are fine! They are in a clean and comfortable hospital ward in Thailand, where the culture is to cheer and sooth fellow humans. Please relax.
1
I am trying to understand the colorful illustration. Does the Star of David figure appear frequently in Thai symbolism? Why is there one on the snake? It seems disconcerting, but I do not know much about Thai culture.
4
Some of the animals represent the countries which participated in the rescue. I believe that the snake represents Israel. One of the volunteer divers was Israeli and he contacted a company specializing in advanced communications also based in Israel to hook up the communications system in the cave. That's how the rescue team and outside media communicated with the people and volunteers inside.
Note that there is a bald eagle (probably US). panda (China?), crane (Japan?), kangaroo (Australia?), beaver (Canada?), german shepherd (Germany?), black eagle (Austria?), rooster (France?), swan (Denmark?), etc. A very cool drawing showing international cooperation. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_animals
9
The Israelis supplied communication technology.
"Emergency mobile communications technology developed by Israeli company Maxtech Networks is being used by rescue teams working to save 12 teenagers and their 25-year-old coach who have been trapped for 11 days in a flooded cave in Thailand."
-- Rescuers turn to Israeli tech to help save trapped Thai boys, https://www.israel21c.org/rescuers-turn-to-israeli-tech-to-help-save-tra...
4
I once spent several weeks in Thailand and experienced first hand the kindness, humility and grace of the Thai people.
This outcome with all of the courageous boys - and their coach - safe and in apparent good health gives us reason to rejoice in a world where selfishness, pettiness and fighting are the rule.
With admiration and gratitude to the people from many countries who worked tirelessly for this success.
38
Perhaps one of the reasons “the boys were all sleeping normally and had not received any anti-anxiety medication” is because they were probably physically exhausted from being in that wretched cave for 16 days.
I think it would be incredibly remarkable if any of these boys or their coach did not experience “anxiety, panic attacks, recurrent nightmares, phobias or other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in the short or long term.” I had some of those symptoms myself merely from reading and following this story for the past two weeks.
I just hope these kids will be allowed to be kids again and to experience their normal childhood routines instead of being the focus of countless interviews, photo shoots, and other various media related events.
I think this experience will create a permanent, loving, supportive and caring bond for each other and that they have learned first hand what bravery, courage, hope and sacrifice is in real life.
15
Culture of resilience, perhaps? Buddhism, a strong strand of culture in that part of the world, is about deriving enlightenment from suffering. It is more complicated and deeper than saying "what does not break you makes you stronger". They also survive and are apparently recovering as a group, "taking care of each other," which is different from individual traumas.
6
Glad to hear they are recovering well. And again congratulations and thanks to the heroic rescue team.
I do wonder how much longer they will be able to keep these boys in beds and away from play. Not natural for boys that age - they must be going stir crazy! Hope they are out and about soon.
8
The hospital room looks much cleaner and more modern than some I've seen in the U.S. and the families won't end up with medical bills in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars upon the release of their sons.
81
in the US, it would easily be $500,000+ per child.
1
Yes, in the US, we tear children away from their parents and put them in cages. But, according to about 40% of the population, that's what we need to do to make America great again.
2
Who will ever see a priceless picture like this in their lifetime?
Could we ever comprehend the days, the hours, minutes and seconds these kids and their coach have lived?
Imagine, a bike ride over to a cave. An innocent day of exploration, turned into a global 18 day journey. A journey dependent on humankind.
As a nurse, I feel gratitude to the healthcare providers who can now bring joy and treatment so these kids (a 25 year old is a “kid” to me) can soon go home.
As a parent, can we imagine the steadfast hope the parents of these kids have shown us? Even directly after the rescue, parents were not allowed to see directly their kids, touch them, hug them. Those parents have taught us patience. Those parents given us another lesson in the chapter of love.
To the divers and all those in the rescue, you have shown us humanity, bravery, skill, worldwide virtue and morality of selflessness. Your teachings of this amazing journey go beyond words.
And to the kids - your journey will never be forgotten. This courage and spirit, and belief, is a lesson every classroom around the world should study. Because every kid deserves a chance to get to know you... and know you with a joyful heart.
92
What really struck me in this was that ALL of the parents opted to stay together after the first group came out. They were determined to stay and support each other until all of their boys were brought out.
That says so much about human kindness and reminded me that we are all greater together than alone.
17
Here's something about the Thailand cave rescue you probably haven't read or heard anywhere. My Thai wife has been closely following the Thai news about the cave rescue, and she just told me something rather interesting about what she heard.
She heard that a famous Thai singer who made a 1400 mile run across Thailand for charity over the span of fifty-five days last year and collected a large amount of money from people along his route donated that money to medical centers throughout Thailand after his run. And one of those centers just happened the one in Chiang Rai where the boys and rescue personnel were taken after the cave rescues.
And it also happens to be the case that the youngest boy rescued from the cave ran with this singer part of the way along his route last year. And what's even more interesting is that the Thai name of the singer means "Wild Boar" in Thai, which is the same name as the soccer team to which the boys who were rescued belong.
Coincidence or karma?
94
Beautiful. The world (or God or Buddha or whatever) indeed works in mysterious ways.
21
Steve, Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. This whole experience and journey has been absolutely phenomenal.
Fundraising for medical care in the place the rescued are cared for. Yup, beautiful.
MIMA
21
Excellent. This is where our US media fails us - they don't check out local media sources. As a Japanese linguist whenever there was something going on in Japan I worked with colleagues focused on US media sources but I initiated local vernacular sources. There is a wealth of information and detail that is overlooked - but then many US journalists are not multilingual unlike their foreign counterparts.
16
With so many seemingly hellbent on destroying the world, these brave rescuers worked day and night for weeks to save a small albeit invaluable part of it. Accolades to all who participated in this historic rescue. This is a life-affirming event that restores hope and demonstrates that goodness triumphs every time. Wishing a speedy recovery to the team and to their coach!
82
This is great news. Thanks to The New York Times for the excellent reporting on this story, including what some of these boys and their coach have had to overcome in their personal lives.
I hope someone is planning to start an education fund for these "Wild Boars" as it sounds like some members of this team have been battling tough odds from the time they were very young.
The teamwork, courage and heroism displayed by this group and their rescuers is beyond impressive.
93
Kudos to these young men, their nation, and those who have kept up with this saga. Worldwide all need a break from the current nonsense in the press and the made up drama that fuel the press!
23
"But as of Wednesday, Dr. Thongchai said, the boys were all sleeping normally and had not received any anti-anxiety medication."
Not in the hospital, perhaps, but Thailand's leader, Gen. Prayut, said in a news conference that the boys had been given anti-anxiety meds before their extraction from the cave. But because Prayut doesn't exactly have a reputation as a straight-shooter, I would like to read what The Times knows about this.
That makes sense, I would have certainly wanted/needed those meds if I was going to swim through two miles of dark uncertain water.
36
They were given anti-anxiety meds for the evacuation to minimize panic during the four, mostly underwater, hours for each extraction.
32
I'd have been shocked if they hadn't been given anti-anxiety medication for the arduous journey out of that cave. One little bit of panic (to be expected) would have turned triumph into tragedy.
7
The animals in the cartoon are symbolic of those involved in the rescue, according to an article in the Thai news site khao sod. The boars are, as mentioned in the caption, the boys, (the larger one is their coach), the frogs surrounding the boars are the expert divers, the white seals are Navy Seals (the one with the halo is the retired Seal who lost his life), the white elephant leading the way is the provincial governor, the Ironman is Elon Musk, the large serpent in the back represents the workers who pumped the water out, the swallows are the rock climbers, the pigeons are the media, the pig with the stalk of rice represents the local farmers, and the rest of the animals represent the various countries who participated in the effort.
121
Well that's just wonderful -thank you for the explanation! I loved the picture as is, but it's great to know the symbolism as well.
This is such a wonderful, heartwarming story, especially since it was looking so dire for a while. We all need good news like this these days.
30
I missed a few: the white horses — one with a red cross — are of course the medical teams, the dog represents the K-9 unit, and for some reason, the duck represents the team of geographers. The illustration is by SisIdea, who is an artist in Bangkok, according to his/her facebook page. And this is a link to an annotated version of SisIdea’s artwork with explanatory labels: https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36867556_1722708841116868_...
1
Can a large screen TV be set up and all the boys be allowed to watch the game together?
I get the drawing of the Wild Boars, and probably the kangaroo stands for the Aussies who assisted, but what about the other animals in the drawing? Which would stand for the Americans?
10
I believe there is an eagle (stylized of course) flying among those birds!
Check the article referenced by the previous poster (Keith McDaniel), above - it has more of those details.
2
The seals are there for the Thai Seals....and there's one with a halo, if you look very closely.
Can a large screen TV be set up and all the boys be allowed to watch the game together?
11
What a pleasure it is to hear good news. News of heroism, decency, saving children’s lives. Stuff that movies are made of.
Too bad we have to look half way around the world to be reminded that humanity and caring for helpless kids is still alive.
71
Love that photo.
These boys demonstrated courage and an unbelievable amount of grace throughout the situation. It makes my heart sing to know that they and their coach are all safe. I hope all of their lives are filled with blessings.
And again, thoughts to the family of Sama Gunan, the volunteer diver who died in early rescue efforts.
49
"But what about all those life-threatening bills for everything?" all the kids, their coaches, their parents and even the entire towns of Mae Sai and Chiang Rai asked anxiously in unison.
I've been thru both Mae Sai and Chiang Rai.
Spirit.
My head still spins 30 months later. Might as well be Mars over there.
6
Congratulations to the "Wild Boars" on their wonderful rescue. Pigs may not fly, but in a pinch, they sure can swim!
68