Duangphet Phromthep was one of the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a cave
(Picture: AP)One of the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a cave in 2018 has died, his Leicestershire school has confirmed.
Duangphet Phromthep, who was the captain of the youth football team that was trapped for nearly three weeks, died in hospital on Tuesday aged 17.
The teen, known as Dom, played football for Brooke House College in Market Harborough, where he also studied.
Principal Ian Smith confirmed the death on Wednesday.
“Brooke House College is devastated to confirm the passing of our student, Duangphet Phromthep yesterday in hospital,” he said in a statement.
“This event has left our college community deeply saddened and shaken.
“We unite in grief with all of Dom’s family, friends, former teammates and those involved in all parts of his life, as well as everyone affected in any way by this loss in Thailand.”
The cause of death has not been confirmed although it is thought he sustained a head injury.
What happened during Thai schoolboy rescue?
Twelve members of Wild Boars football team, then aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach entered the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand on June 23, 2018, after a training session. But as they were inside, heavy rain blocked their exit route and trapped them deep within. They were left for more than two weeks with no sunlight, limited oxygen and rationed food supplies.
Further rain hampered initial rescue efforts and no contact was made with the individuals for more than a week. Two British divers managed to gain access to the group on July 2 and found the team on an elevated rock about 4km from the edge of the cave mouth. On July 6, a diver and former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan lost consciousness and died in an effort to deliver air tanks. Fellow Thai diver Beirut Pakbara died a year later following a blood infection acquired during the rescue.
After discussing various rescue options, an international team of 18 divers went in to bring the team members back one by one. The football team members were sedated with ketamine and given specialist dive equipment. The operation was successfully completed from July 8 to July 10, which was 18 days after they first entered the cave.
None of the team were critically injured, although some members suffered minor scrapes and cuts, mild rashes, and lung inflammation. About 10,000 people were involved in the rescue effort in various guises. One of the boys celebrated his birthday while in the cave.
What happened to the boys rescued from the Thai cave?
After the rescue operation, the boys were taken to hospital where they spent some time resting and recovering. A further problem that complicated their initial recovery was that three members, including the coach Ekkapol Chantawong, did not have a nationality as they were from tribal lands between the Thailand, Laos, China and Myanmar border. The three were all given Thai citizenship in September and the government has pledged to end statelessness by 2024.
In October 2018, the Wild Boars team accepted an offer from Manchester United football club to watch the Red Devils play at home. The squad met then-manager Jose Mourinho and were given a tour of Old Trafford. The following month, they were given the Pride of Britain 2018 award for Outstanding Bravery.
From there, the unlikely celebrity status of the team grew and in 2019 they were each awarded £72,000 from Netflix for the rights to make a documentary. Another film on the rescue mission, Thirteen Lives, was released last year starring Colin Farrell.
Chanin "Titan" Wibunrungrueang, the youngest of the boys, told the BBC last year: “At first it was very difficult, I had to adjust myself. A lot of people knew about me and I didn’t know how to act ... I felt tense when I was in front of the camera or being interviewed.”
He added that he still plays football with Ekkapol Chantawong – the coach who was trapped with the boys and has since founded an academy.
Mr Chantawong added: “I’m really proud because some of the kids get to their goals. Some of them want to be professional footballers and play at the highest level.”
Phonchai Khamluang is reportedly playing football with a side in Thailand’s third division while Adul Sam-On was said to be in New York studying on a scholarship.
Adul’s uncle, Go Shin Maung, told the New York Times: “The boys are going their own ways.
”Some will pursue their studies and some are following football. They still chat and message with each other, sharing their experiences."
Dom, though, was said to be the team’s standout star and won a scholarship to play and study with the Market Harborough college, which boasts footballers Jesse Sekidika and Kelvin John among its alumni.
He said after joining: “Today my dream has come true.”
