Thai boy footballers and coach finally out!!!

[**bustysinclaire**]

A remarkable ordeal but now safe, just goes to show how countries can work together.

[cee-dee]

An incredible rescue and all credit to all those participating. We mustn't forget the poor chap who lost his life though.

The thing is now that the Thai authorities were calling the caves "world famous" and were talking about putting up "lights and signs"......

Won't that encourage others to go down there who might "get stuck" too?

[otherego]

Wonderful news. I see the doctor and the three militarly personnel who stayed on are now safely out, too.

As you say, Busty, it's wonderful to see that countries can achieve great things together.

The actual rescue seems to have been something of a leap of faith. Everyone concerned knew how dangerous it was, but the prospect of the trapped persons' refuge being flooded in the next few days must have made for some difficult decisions. Leaving them there probably wasn't an option.

Youngsters are pretty resilient. Even so, I it'll be interesting to hear how they managed to keep themselves sane and positive. Their coach is an ex-monk (seems to be less of a lifetime committment than we might consider it in the West) - it'll be interesting to see whether some degree of mental and other discipline came into it.

As for opening it up further to tourists - why not? I'm horribly risk-averse, but don't expect everybody else to be. Presumably, further safeguards would be instituted anyway - but it's interesting to speculate whether societies which still allow folk to take risks such as this team took (no risk assessment? O, the horror) might not forge ahead of the West in due course - socially, economically and so on.

But what an achievement, and definitely reason for celebration.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Don't the boys look great, nearly well enough to home on Thursday, their faces say it all. Well done guys and brilliant job to all the rescuers who don't class themselves as heroes. Xxx