Boys saved from caves ‘in good health’. Today the last rescue mission

The survivors remain quarantined and isolated from their parents. Two of the young footballers have suspected lung infections, but the four boys from the first group saved two days ago are walking around their hospital beds. Today one survivor more than those saved in recent days will be extracted.

Chiang Rai (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The first eight boys rescued from the caves of Tham Luang, in the northern district of Mae Sai, "are in good health" and some have asked for chocolate bread for breakfast. This is what the authorities report this morning, while the rescuers have started the third and most demanding final mission to free the remaining five.

Two of the young footballers have suspected lung infections, but the four boys from the first group saved two days ago are walking around their hospital beds. The boys have a good appetite, but they are given easily digestible food. However, the doctors gave in after some of the boys asked for bread with chocolate. The doctors say that the survivors are still in quarantine due to the risk of infections and will probably be kept in hospital for the next week to undergo testing.

Four other boys were transported on stretchers outside the subterranean compound on the Myanmar border last night, bringing the number of people rescued to eight after two days since the rescue maneuvers began.

The head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, declares that today will be a "more challenging" day, because one survivor more than those saved in recent days will be extracted. Three Thai Navy soldiers who had reached the cavity where the football team had found refuge will return to the surface. Rescuers learned from experience and yesterday they were two hours faster to bring the second group of survivors out of the caves. However, the continuous monsoon rains risk filtering through the limestone cave walls and raising the water level in the tunnels.