World

Cave rescue: Key questions answered

July 12, 2018 4:15 pm

After 17 days underground, all the Thai boys and their football coach have safely escaped from the Tham Luang cave complex.

A team of Thai and international divers mounted a dangerous and complicated rescue to bring the boys out, and details of the bid are still emerging now.

BBC correspondent Jonathan Head has answered some of the core questions about the boys, the rescue attempt, and what happens next.

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Why did the kids go so deep into the cave?
We will not know that until we hear from them and their assistant coach, Ekkapol “Ake” Chantawong.

On that Saturday they were scheduled to play a match, which was cancelled, according to head coach Nopparat Kanthawong. He scheduled a training session instead.

The boys were keen cyclists so on the Facebook chat group through which they communicated with the parents, coach Ake suggested they cycle to the football field.

There was no suggestion there that they would go on to the caves.