Shropshire Star

Thailand cave rescue boys send video message from hospital

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsattayatorn says all 13 are set to leave the hospital next Thursday.

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Thailand Cave

The 12 boys and their football coach who were trapped in a cave in Thailand are recovering well and have appeared in a video message.

In the brief video, they list their food wish lists – while the health minister said they are expected to be discharged from hospital next week.

The footage of the boys from a Saturday news conference shows them still wearing surgical masks, a safeguard against infection since the last of them was pulled from a cave on Tuesday after being trapped for almost three weeks.

Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsattayatorn says all 13 are set to leave the hospital next Thursday.

Doctors say they will still need to be closely monitored for physical and psychological effects of their ordeal.

“All of the 13 people, their physical bodies are strong, and fit. Regarding infections, through the medical evaluations in the first days there may be some of them that had minor pneumonia, but now all is cleared, no fever,” Dr Piyasakol said.

Thailand Cave
Thai Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsattayatorn (Vincent Thian/AP)

Several were also reported earlier to be recovering from minor lung and middle ear infections.

Most of the boys, who were shown in their hospital beds, looked relaxed, and began their brief statements with a “wai”, the traditional Thai greeting of hands raised to chest level with palms together.

A few also gave the two-finger victory sign and raised their right fists. One of the 14-year-olds, Ekarat Wongsukchan – whose nickname is Biw, playfully raised his two arms in a boxer’s victory stance as laughter was heard in the background.

“Hello, my name is Biw, I am fine. I want to say thanks to everyone that worried,” he said. All 13 offered thanks for the support they’ve been given.

Asked by an off-camera interviewer what they were looking forward to eating, their wish list included slow-cooked pork leg with steamed rice, fried crispy pork, roasted red pork, sushi, steak and KFC.

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