Thailand: Football boys, who had a heroic escape from cave, leaves hospital

Bangkok, July 18: The young members of the football team 'Wild Boars' who were rescued from inside a complex cave system in Chiang Rai province of northern Thailand earlier this month during a mission that lasted over weeks were discharged from hospital on Wednesday, July 18.

The boys, aged between 11 and 16, who were accompanied by their 25-year-old coach, were set to speak at a press conference for the first time after leaving the hospital.

"The reason to hold this evening press conference is so media can ask them questions and after that they can go back to live their normal lives without media bothering them," AFP quoted Thailand's chief government spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd as saying.

The young footballers were discharged a day earlier than it was previously said and were due to return to their homes later in the day. They were invited by Fifa to witness the final of the just concluded World Cup football final in Moscow, Russia, but they could not since their treatment was still on.

The members had entered the Tham Luang cave on June 23 but got stranded underground by sudden rain and flooding. They were spotted by some British divers on July 9 and thereafter, the mission started to bring them out. One experienced diver also lost his life to air shortage during the mission which was joined by seasoned divers from across the world.

Public relations officials in Chiang Rai province also solicited questions from media earlier and they were to be forwarded to psychiatric doctors for screening before the boys take them on, AFP reported.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha also requested the media to be "cautious" while asking questions to the boys.