Boy who survived Thai cave rescue dies in UK
Will Bolton
Wed, 15 February 2023 at 4:08 am GMT-5·4-min read
Duangpetch Promthep
One of the 12 boys saved during the Thai cave rescue in 2018 has died in the UK.
Duangphet Phromthep enrolled in the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester late last year after winning a scholarship.
The cause of death is still unclear but the 17-year-old was found unconscious in his dorm in Leicestershire on Sunday and taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday, the BBC reports.
Duangphet was the captain of the Thai boys' football team, The Wild Boars, which became trapped in a cave along with their coach for two weeks while exploring the Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai province.
The abbot of Phra That Doi Ngao Temple in Chiang Rai, told Thai PBS that Duangphet, known as "Dom", had been admitted to hospital for three days after a fall.
The abbot said he had been contacted by Duangphet's mother who told him her son was put on a ventilator after the incident but later died.
The Wild Boars football team pictured in 2018
Some of his teammates from the cave rescue have also shared the news of his death on social media.
The temple posted condolences to Duangphet on Facebook on Wednesday. "May Dom's soul rest in peace," said the post, which was accompanied by pictures of the football team with monks.
Zico Foundation, a Thai non-profit that had helped Duangphet win a scholarship to study in England, also expressed condolences on Facebook.
Brooke House College's principal, Ian Smith, said the school was "devastated" by the death.
He said: "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 and throughout the college’s global family.
"The college is liaising with statutory authorities and the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and dedicating all resources to assist our student body, as they as young people process Dom’s passing."
The Wild Boars football team became trapped while exploring the vast 10km long cave complex in 2018 when heavy rainfall flooded the exit.
Duangphet was 13 at the time, while his teammates were aged between 11 and 16.
They were eventually rescued nine days later by a team of nearly 100 divers from countries across the world.
Efforts to locate the group were initially hampered by rising water levels and strong currents, and no contact was made for more than a week.
On 2 July, after advancing through narrow passages and muddy waters, British divers John Volanthen and Rick Stanton found the group alive on an elevated rock about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the cave mouth.
Between 8 and 10 July, all 12 boys and their coach were rescued from the cave.
Saman Kunan, a 37-year-old former Royal Thai Navy SEAL, died of asphyxiation during an attempted rescue on 6 July while returning to a staging base in the cave after delivering diving cylinders to the trapped group.
The following year, in December 2019, rescue diver and Thai Navy SEAL Beirut Pakbara died of a blood infection contracted during the operation.
The children pay tribute to Saman Kunan, a diver who died during the rescue - Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP
The dramatic rescue made headlines around the world, and various films and books were later made to retell the story, including a six-episode series released by Netflix.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "Shortly before 1pm on Sunday (12 February) police were called to a boarding school in Leicester Road, Market Harborough by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
"The call concerned the welfare of a pupil.
"The pupil - a 17-year-old boy - was taken to hospital. He has since died.
"The boy's death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."
A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service said they were called to an address in Market Harborough after being called to a "medical emergency".
They added: "We sent three paramedics in ambulance cars, a crewed ambulance and the air ambulance was also in attendance.
"We transported one patient via land ambulance to Kettering General Hospital."
