Thai cave boys to address media for first time after leaving hospital
The boys and their football coach will appear at a live televised news conference in Chiang Rai to speak about their ordeal.
Wednesday 18 July 2018 11:46, UK
The 12 Thai boys whose dramatic rescue from a flooded cave captured the world's attention are set to address the media for the first time.
The youngsters, aged 11 to 16, and their football coach left hospital on Wednesday and will appear at a live televised news conference in Chiang Rai to speak about their ordeal.
The international rescue effort to save the boys and their 25-year-old coach was dubbed "Mission Impossible" after they spent more than two weeks trapped in the flooded cave system.
:: Meet the 12 boys rescued from the Thailand cave complex
A riAG百家乐在线官网 three-day operation to retrieve the group through narrow submerged tunnels was successfully completed last week, sparking jubilant scenes across Thailand.
The Thai government has allowed 45 minutes' airtime for the news conference, which will be recorded at Chiang Rai's provincial hall at around 6pm local time (12pm UK time).
The boys, their coach and some rescuers will be asked a series of carefully-vetted questions submitted by journalists in advance, officials said.
Sky News South Asia correspondent Siobhan Robbins, who is in Chiang Rai, said journalists' questions have been screened by psychologists and will be read out by a government official.
She said the news conference would help answer why the group entered the cave and how they survived for the first nine days before help arrived.
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"The doctors are cautious about doing anything that could affect the boys' psychological health," Robbins said.
The boys, who play for the Wild Boars youth team, had entered the Tham Luang cave on 23 June for a quick, relaxing excursion after practice, but rain began falling while they were underground, and the water filled the caverns, cutting off their escape.
Divers found the group huddling on a spot of dry ground deep inside the cave 10 days later, hungry but generally healthy.
Some of the boys were treated for minor infections during their hospital stay, but all 13 have been described as recovering well.
A Thai government spokesman said: "The media know that the children are in a difficult situation, they have overcome peril and if you ask riAG百家乐在线官网 questions then it could break the law.
"We don't know what wounds the kids are carrying in the hearts."