Thai cave rescue diver relives mission at film premiere

One of the divers who helped save 12 young footballers from a cave in Thailand has recalled how those involved did not have time to focus on emotion, only “the nuts and bolts of the rescue”.

Speaking at the UK premiere of Thirteen Lives, which follows the events of the rescue, Richard Stanton said he and his team had to “write the operational manuals” for the mission in real-time due to its unprecedented nature.

The rescue from the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand in 2018 made headlines around the world.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16 who were members of the Wild Boars youth football team, had cycled with their coach to the caves to explore when they became marooned inside.

One rescue diver, former Thai Navy Seal Saman Kunan, died during the mission. Another, Thai Navy Seal Beirut Pakbara, died in 2019 from a blood infection he contracted during…