Thai teen who captained Chiang Rai soccer team rescued from flooded cave in 2018 dies in UK

BANGKOK — One of 12 boys dramatically rescued from a Thai cave in 2018 has died at a school in Britain, authorities said on Wednesday (Feb 15). 

The death of 17-year-old Duangphet “Dom’’ Phromthep came as a shock to his family and friends.

The cause of death was unclear. Unconfirmed reports in British media said he sustained a head injury. He had signed up for the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester, England, last year.

Leicestershire police said they were called to the boarding school on Sunday over concerns for the welfare of a pupil, who they did not name in line with police protocols in the UK.

"The pupil — a 17-year-old boy — was taken to hospital. He has since died," the force said, adding his death was "not being treated as suspicious".

Social media was inundated with messages of grief and condolence when the news broke on Wednesday.

Mark Gooding, Britain's ambassador in Bangkok, tweeted his condolences to Duangpetch's family. 

Zico Foundation, a Thai non-profit organisation, posted a message and a photo of Duangphet, or Nong Dom, who had received a football scholarship from the foundation.

Phra Khu Prayut Jetiyanukarn, abbot of Wat Phra That Doi Wao in Chiang Rai, said Duangphet’s mother phoned him around 6am and said that her son had died.

The abbot said initial reports were that there was an accident, a fall, and Duangphet was injured. He was admitted to hospital and put on a ventilator but later died.

The family was in touch with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and details will be announced later.

Relatives in tambon Wiang Phang Kham told reporters they were informed the boy had been injured in an accident that led to his death. They added that details will be given out by the boy’s football club in England. 

Duangphet was the captain of the Wild Boars football team whose rescue from a flooded cave captured the attention of the world in 2018. He won a scholarship to study at the football academy in Leicestershire.

Duangphet posted a message on his Instagram account after receiving the scholarship. "Today, my dream has come true because I will become a football student in England,'' he said.

Between June and July 2018, Thai and international rescue teams scoured flooded Luang cave in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district to find 12 "Wild Boar" footballers aged between 11 and 16 and their 25-year-old assistant coach, who went to explore the underground complex on June 23 after football practice.

They were trapped inside by a sudden storm and flood for 17 days before being finally found by two British divers. A complex and dangerous rescue followed. One rescuer died in the flooded cave. BANGKOK POST AND AGENCIES