Statement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the Successful Rescue of Football Team Members from Flooded Cave in Thailand

12 July 2018 – The Philippines joins the international community in rejoicing with Thailand over the successful rescue of members of a local youth football team from the flooded cave in the northern part of the country where they have been trapped for 18 days.

We congratulate the Royal Thai Government for ensuring the successful recovery of the members of the team. We also laud the many volunteers from Thailand and other countries for their heroic courage and tireless efforts to bring the group out to safety and reunite them with their loved ones.

We also extend our condolences to the family of the former Thai Navy SEAL diver, Petty Officer First Class Saman Kunan, who unselfishly gave up his life to help save the members of the team. END