Thai Cave Rescue: Meditation and digging holes in the cave kept the boys in good spirit
Thai soccer players who were stuck in the waterlogged Tham Luang cave in a lush mountain range in northern Thailand cave interacted with media for the first time after the rescue. They shared that they survived for nine days on a routine of digging, water breaks and meditation without any food appeared for the first time in public after being rescued. Holding soccer balls, the team appeared before the media in good health and spirits.
The 12 soccer boys shared that they persuaded their 25-year-old coach Ekapol Chanthawong for a short trip to the cave after rigorous practice on June 23. Their initial plan was to stay inside the cave for an hour and return home before nightfall but unfortunately, this expedition turned into a nightmare. Parents of the young children weren't aware of the trip into the cave.
The coach shared that they used a guide rope to way their way into the cave. But, those at the front suddenly realised that they weren't able to make their way anymore and decided to retreat and got stuck.
The Coach said, "We found that there was water coming down and down from the rocks,” He also added that they found shelter instead and prayed before sleeping that night and hoped the water levels would lower enough for them to swim out the next day.
Hours passed by and most of them lost the sense of time inside the dark cave. It was their coach's willpower and motivation that kept them going. The coach Ekapol advised them to drink as much water they can to keep full and also dig holes to have a purpose.
One of the soccer players said,"We dug holes to find a way to escape and stopped when we were tired. We kept drinking water to fill our belly." He also added that they stopped thinking about food to not make them hungry.
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First published: 19 July 2018, 15:11 IST