Thailand cave rescue: Ordeal ends as all 12 boys and their coach pulled out successfully

According to reports, all 12 Thai footballers, includingthe coach, were successfully rescued on Tuesday.

An eleventh person was rescued on Tuesday from a flooded Thai cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped for more than two weeks, raising hopes all 13 would be out by the end of the day.

A Reuters witness saw three people being carried out of the Tham Luang cave on stretchers separately on Tuesday, the third day of the rescue operation.

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Eight of the boys were brought out on stretchers over the first two days - four on Sunday and four on Monday.

The head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, said earlier the final operation would be "more challenging" because one more survivor would be brought out, along with three Navy SEALs who have been accompanying them.

Narongsak Osottanakorn said that the rescue mission began at 10.08 amand involves 19 divers. He said a medic and three SEALS in the cave, who’ve been looking after those trapped, will also come out.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the cave to inspect the rescue operation, with navy rescuers giving him a rousing cheer.

The boys had a good appetite but were mainly being given bland, easily digestible foods. However, doctors later relented after some of the boys asked for bread with chocolate topping.

The first eight boys rescued from the Thai cave are in good mentalhealth, an official said Tuesday, in the clearest update on their condition so far.

According to reports, the Thai health official informed that the first four boys rescued are between the ages of 14 to 16 and two of them possibly have a lung infection but all eight are generally “healthy and smiling,”Chokedamrongsuk, permanentsaid.

The operation on Monday went more smoothly than on Sunday and took two hours less as the practice became more refined, he said.