There was joy and relief as the news broke that divers in northern Thailand have rescued 12 boys and their football coach from flooded caves, 17 days after they got trapped underground.
The plight of the group and the dangerous work to free them has gripped the world’s attention. Parishioners in Ireland were amongst those across the globe offering prayers for their safe recovery.
Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin tweeted to say that “people all over Ireland are praying for those involved in the #ThailandCave rescue mission, for those trapped, their friends and families”.
The first of the boys were brought out on Sunday but the last of the group were only freed on Tuesday afternoon.
They had got stuck deep inside the cave on June 23 after heavy rains caused flooding and cut off their route out.
Aged between about 11 and 17, the members of the Wild Boars football team had entered the cave system in the province of Chiang Rai during an excursion with their coach – a former monk.
After they were found by British divers last week, huddled in darkness on a ledge and cut off from the outside world for nine days, the race began to get them out before the weather deteriorated even further.
The first eight boys to be rescued, on Sunday and Monday, are still in hospital but said to be in good mental and physical health.
They have undergone X-rays and blood tests, and will remain under observation in hospital for at least seven days.
A team of 90 expert divers – 40 from Thailand and 50 from overseas – worked in the caves.
They guided the boys and their coach through darkness and submerged passageways towards the mouth of the Tham Luang cave system.