THE FACES OF THAM LUANG

Jun 23, 2018. After Saturday training, 12 children in a small regional football club called Moo Pa ("Wild Boars" in Thai) went out with their coach, as they often did.

This time, however, they hadn't returned by the time night fell.

Instead, their bikes and football boots were found at the mouth of Tham Luang cave complex - as a monsoon downpour flooded the area.

THE THIRTEEN

Krit Promsakla Na Sakolnakorn / THAI NEWS PIX / AFP

Krit Promsakla Na Sakolnakorn / THAI NEWS PIX / AFP

By the time the 13 Wild Boars were found, they had gone 4km deep inside the cave and spent nine days in darkness.

The discovery saw thousands mobilised in one of the world's most complex and gruelling rescue operations.

They were finally evacuated in batches over the last three days of their 18-day ordeal - through zero-visibility waters, rough currents and mind-boggling terrain with crevices as tight as 38cm by 72cm.

Chanin Vibulrungruang, 11, striker

The youngest of the group. Also known as Titan, the striker has been playing football since he was seven.

In a letter delivered by divers, he wrote:

“Dad, mum, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Please tell Yod to take me to eat fried chicken. Love you.”

Panumas Sangdee, 13, defender

Also known as Mick, he's been described as the ideal defender - but the coaches have considered playing him as a striker because he's strong in the air.

"I’m happy in here. The SEAL team takes very good care of us. Love you all."

Duangpech Promthep, 13, forward

Known as Dom, the junior team captain has been playing football for eight years.

He's been invited to trials by a number of leading provincial teams, including Sukhothai FC and Chiangrai United FC.

"I’m all right, just that the weather may be a little bit too cold, but don’t worry. Don’t forget my birthday party."

Somphong Jaiwong, 13, right winger

Pong, as he's simply known, dreams of turning pro and playing for his country.

Also a Liverpool fan who loves England captain Harry Kane - although his favourite player is Lionel Messi.

"I love you dad, mum. Don’t worry, I’m safe now. Love you all."

Monkol Boonpeam, 13, trainee

Otherwise known as Mark, he joined the local team only a year ago but has played football since kindergarten and almost always wears a football shirt.

Fan of Thai Premier League club Muangthong United.

"Are you all right at home, mum? I’m fine. Please tell my teacher (love you mum)."

Nattavut Takhamsong, 14, striker

Also called Tle, he suffers from asthma, although friends say he doesn't let it hold him back.

Reports say his parents dote on him as they have already lost a baby daughter to cancer.

"I miss you dad, mum. I also miss Jubjang. I love you dad, mum. Don’t worry. I can take care of myself."

Adul Sam-on, 14, left winger

The only boy among them who speaks English - he was the one who spoke to the British divers who found them.

Born in Myanmar's self-governing Wa State, Adul also knows Thai, Burmese and Chinese.

In addition to football, he also loves to play the piano and guitar.

"You don’t have to worry about us now. I miss you all. I want to go home now."

Ekarat Wongsookchan, 14, goalkeeper

Nicknamed Bew, coaches say he is a disciplined player who has improved his game over the past few years. He also steps up to put away the team's equipment at the end of each training session.

"Dad, mum, don’t worry about me. I’m gone for two weeks. I’ll help you in the shop every day I’m free. I’ll be back soon."

Pipat Bodhi, 15

Nick, as he's known as, isn't technically a member of the Wild Boars - he joined the team's practice match to spend time with his friend Bew, the goalkeeper.

"Mum, dad, I love you guys, and Toi too. If I get out, please take me to a barbeque place."

Prajak Sutham, 15, midfielder

Known to his friends as Note, he turned 15 in the cave, the day before they were found.

Plays in goal when not in midfield. He reportedly works at his family's garage to earn money for football gear.

"I’m safe. Don’t worry. I love you dad, mum and everyone."

Pornchai Kamluang, 16, defender

Also known as Tee, coaches say he's a cycling enthusiast and fast runner, making him an ideal defender.

"Don’t worry. I’m very happy."

Peerapat Sompiangjai, 17, right winger

Nicknamed Night. It was on his birthday that the boys went missing, and his parents said they were still waiting to hold his birthday party.

Reports say the team brought snacks with them to celebrate Night’s birthday, and the food helped keep them going before they were found.

"I love you dad, mum. Don’t worry about me. I love you all."

Ekapol Chanthawong, 25, assistant coach

Once a Buddhist monk, he's spent a lot of time taking care of his grandmother since leaving the monastery.

Coach Ek, as the boys call him, is believed to have taught them meditation techniques which may have helped them cope in the cave.

"I promise I’ll care for them as best as I can. Thank you all for the support. I deeply apologise to the parents."

THE HEROES

ROYAL THAI NAVY / AFP

ROYAL THAI NAVY / AFP

"Rick and John were at the spearhead ...
They managed to dive the last section and get through into the chamber where the missing party were on a ledge above the water.

"They were diving upstream in the system, so they were having to swim against the current or pull themselves along the walls."

Bill Whitehouse, British Cave Rescue Council

Rick (Richard) Stanton, 57

The retired firefighter from Coventry has been diving since he was 18.

Prior to the Thai mission, he told his local newspaper in 2012 that his biggest achievement was helping rescue six British soldiers trapped in caves in Mexico.

John Volanthen, 47

An Internet engineer in Bristol by day, Volanthen took up diving as a boy scout and is also an ultramarathoner.

He and Stanton are volunteers with the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team.

"We're not heroes ... If you could do the same for someone else’s child, you would."

Richard Harris, 53

An anaesthesiologist from Adelaide with more than 30 years of cave-diving experience.

The British divers specifically asked for him, and he made the dangerous 4km journey into the chamber to assess the boys.

Dr Harris was the one who persuaded rescuers to change their earlier strategy of rescuing the strongest boys first. Instead, he recommended that the weakest be evacuated first.

However, he emerged from the cave to learn that his own father had died shortly after the successful rescue mission.

Vernon Unsworth, Chiang Rai-based caver who persuaded officals to bring in the British divers (Photo: Vernon Unsworth / Facebook)

Vernon Unsworth, Chiang Rai-based caver who helped convince officals to bring in the British divers (Photo: Vernon Unsworth / Facebook)

British cave diver Chris Jewell (Photo: Chris Jewell / Facebook)

British cave diver Chris Jewell (Photo: Chris Jewell / Facebook)

Ben Reymenants, Belgian cave diver believed to be part of the group that found the boys (Photo: Ben Reymenants / Facebook)

Ben Reymenants, Belgian cave diver believed to be part of the group that found the boys (Photo: Ben Reymenants / Facebook)

Claus Rasmussen, Danish diver (Photo: Claus Rasmussen / Facebook)

Claus Rasmussen, Danish diver (Photo: Claus Rasmussen / Facebook)

Mikko Paasi, Finnish diving instructor (Photo: Mikko Paasi / Facebook)

Mikko Paasi, Finnish diving instructor (Photo: Mikko Paasi / Facebook)

Ivan Karadzic, Danish diving instructor (Photo: Reuters)

Ivan Karadzic, Danish diving instructor (Photo: Reuters)

Wang Yingjie, Chinese diver (Photo: Reuters)

Wang Yingjie, Chinese diver (Photo: Reuters)

Nick Vollmar, German paramedic and firefighter (Photo: Reuters)

Nick Vollmar, German paramedic and firefighter (Photo: Reuters)

Erik Brown, Canadian diving instructor (Photo: Erik Brown / Facebook)

Erik Brown, Canadian diving instructor (Photo: Erik Brown / Facebook)

Experts and volunteers came from all over the globe - from places like the UK, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, the US and Singapore - to pitch in.

Altogether, more than 10,000 people came to help over the course of the 18-day ordeal, including officers from the Thai Army, Navy, Air Force, police, medics, world-class diving experts, engineers, geologists, mining experts, volunteers and many more.

The final push to evacuate the survivors involved a total of 90 divers - 40 of them Thai, 50 others foreigners.

They worked meticulously and tirelessly around the clock, doing everything from transporting food and water supplies, laying cables for communication, maintaining oxygen levels and pumping out millions of gallons of water.

All of it was done with a single-minded purpose - to get the 13 out alive and well.

And as dark monsoon clouds loomed over the mountains, rescue commander Narongsak Osottanakorn declared Sunday, Jul 8 D-day.

"The boys are ready to face any challenges."

The divers executed the operation: Sedating each boy, wrapping him in a stretcher, and using pulleys, ropes and rubber piping to pass the stretchers from diver to diver, through the narrow and submerged passageways of Tham Luang complex.

Even after the final Wild Boar had been hauled to safety, the danger was not over.

As rescue workers in the cave celebrated the success of their mission, the main water pump suddenly failed.

Water came flooding back into a section of the cave that had been submerged, made wadeable only by the pumps.

The 20 or so divers did not have air tanks with them - and had to scramble to flee the rising waters.

They only narrowly made it out in time: By the time the last man got out, the water was already at head level.

Speaking to journalists after the last people had left the cave, Narongsak acknowleged that so many people had been involved that he "may not be able to thank everyone" at the news conference.

But the rescue mission chief made one thing clear:

"We've done what others thought was impossible."

A Thai rescuer hanging up his equipment outside a cave. (Photo: AP)
Cavers on a road leading to Tham Luang cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Police guarding a junction for an ambulance believed to be carrying one of the rescued boys from the flooded cave. (Photo: AP)
Policemen managing traffic near Tham Luang cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Rescue personnel at Tham Luang cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Rescue teams carrying water pipes to the entrance of the cave complex. (Photo: AP)
Rescue teams outside the caves. (Photo: Reuters)
Rescue workers carrying air tanks into the cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Rescuers walking toward the entrance of the cave complex. (Photo: AP)
Soldiers carrying a pump to help drain rising flood water. (Photo: AP)
Soldiers unloading aid near the cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Soldiers and their dog outside the cave complex. (Photo: Reuters)
Thai medic soldiers at Tham Luang. (Photo: AFP)
Thai police guarding a road leading to the Tham Luang cave area. (Photo: AFP)
Thai police guarding a road leading to the caves. (Photo: AFP)
Thai policemen securing the road leading to the caves. (Photo: AFP)
Thai rescue personnel arriving outside the caves. (Photo: AFP)
Thai rescuers preparing to enter the cave. (Photo: AP)
Thai soldiers leaving the caves. (Photo: AP)
Thai soldiers outside the caves. (Photo: AFP)
Thai volunteers heading to the cave complex. (Photo: AFP)
Thai volunteers preparing food in a mobile canteen outside the caves. (Photo: AFP)
Thai volunteers receiving a massage outside the caves as operations continued. (Photo: AFP)
Volunteers celebrating outside Tham Luang cave complex on Jul 10. (Photo: Reuters)

These four unnamed Thai Navy SEAL divers were the last out of Tham Luang cave complex, leaving only after the 12 boys and their coach were brought out safely.

However, one former Navy SEAL paid the ultimate price.

Volunteer diver Saman Kunan ran out of oxygen while he was helping supply air to the boys and their coach in the cave complex.

"Saman, rest in peace. You're the hero of Tham Luang."

Know of other heroes who were involved in this Herculean rescue effort? Leave us a note here.