The Thai boys cave rescue is a story of many heroes – including one of the boys himself, who helped co-ordinate the rescue by communicating with British divers.
Myanmar refugee Adul Sam-on, is able to speak five languages – including English – and was able to translate instructions between the divers, the group of young boys and their football coach.
Adul, who also speaks Thai, Burmese, and Chinese, began school when he was seven years old having left his family behind to get a good education.
He was among the group of 12 boys trapped deep inside the Tham Luang cave in Thailand, who were all rescued this week in a dangerous operation.
His instructor, Phannee Tiyaprom at Ban Pa Moead School, told AFP: ‘The first thing that comes to mind when I talk about him is his nice manner. He gives a ‘wai’ gesture to every teacher he walks past, every time.’
School director Phunawhit Thepsurin added: ’He’s a gem.
‘He’s good at both studying and sports… he’s brought our school several medals and certificates from his achievements.’
The 12 boys rescued from deep within the flooded cave made victory signs from their hospital beds in a video from the isolation ward where they are recuperating after an 18-day ordeal, as it merged they were drugged with ketamine to stop them panicking during the operation.
Authorities had previously denied the children were drugged but Prayut Chan-o-Cha confirmed that they had been given anxiolytic ‘to make them not excited, not stressed’.
One of the British divers added: ‘I was told the boys were given a dose of ketamine to keep them calm.’
In video footage from their hospital beds, the youngest boy, 11, appeared asleep under a white sheet while others, including their 25-year-old football coach, sat in bed, their faces obscured by green surgical masks.
Nurses chatted with them and the boys responded with the customary Thai sign of respect – hands pressed together while bowing the head.
Parents watched and waved from behind a glass barrier, their faces vivid with emotion.
