Official Thai News Conference on the last stage of the rescue/Background on the Coach
Just obtained the tape from press conference that concluded around noon EDT
It had the main officers who have been appearing at all of the Press Conferences including the Governor of Chiang Rai, military officers and a local civilian officer. There was a dramatic change in the tone of the briefing and how relaxed everyone is, the rescue is going much better than they had hoped and they expect to get all 13 out within the next 24 hours and that all will completely recover from the experience.
Briefing:
They are afraid of the upcoming typhoon that caused so much damage in Japan. They are going to move all out as soon as practical.
The Prime Minister visited to give encouragement to the divers and workers (He was not at the Press Conference and has consciously kept a low profile so that the local officials will get all of the credit, unlike our Idiot in Chief)
"So far the obstacles and weather has been about what we expected"
"We expect good news in the next 24 hours"
The officers gave casual remarks in a very relaxed manner, they clearly believe that the remaining 5 will be able to leave the cave.
Gave thanks for the massive cooperation by people in Thailand and international friends.
Answers to questions. Can't hear the questions but pretty obvious from the answer
(Answer to report's question) " We can't guarantee when it will be finished but if the conditions remain the same as yesterday then it will be finished in 20 hours".
"The four that came out today are in better condition than the first group. The first group health has improved a great deal and they are eating solid food"
21:44 Bangkok time
A lot of people are asking why would they be in this cave, etc. This cave complex is about 7 miles from my Thai home in Mae Sai. It is as a common place for tourists and locals to have a picnic, especially in the hot weather when the cave remains cool. Most people don't go beyond the main first chamber but the boys on the team probably have been in it dozens of time which helped them navigate to good
The coach.s entire family was killed in a flu epidemic and he became a permanent novice Monk at the age of 10 and lived in a temple for about 8 years. Once they were stranded he gave instructions on meditation and kept the kids lying still next to each other to keep warm and conserve energy. They had brought a little bit of food with them which was rationed out to the kids but the coach hasn't eaten in the ten days before he was rescued.
Before this Coach Ekkapol devised an incentive system for the team so that if they got good grades they would get shoes and clothes. I watched an interview with the abbot who was Ekkapol's supervisor when he was a monk and stated that Ek was well know for being very compassionate, especially with children (his younger brother was 7 when he died). Not all monks are happy go lucky like they are portrayed. Some are very stern and haughty (and can still be a good monk) but it is clear that EK became a very compassionate person after he lost his family and lived in a temple for 8 years.
You can read more about the coach here;
https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/how-a-25yearold-former-monk-kept-the-thai-soccer-team-alive/news-story/46b657bf5e027611d34da5fb509062a4
You have heard about the boy that speaks 4 languages and the report that I heard stated that when he was young his Burmese mother was too poor to care for him so she came to Mae Sai (next to Burma) and left him at a Christian School where he has lived and been cared for. He speaks Burmese, Thai, English and I am guessing Chinese as they are common in the area. It is said that he is an outstanding student.
Interesting side note about the Governor of Chiang Rai who is the clear leader and mastermind of the rescue and has been very impressive in the way that he has given detailed sober briefings to the country and has been realistically hopeful from the beginning.
He isn't the "current" Governor of Chiang Rai. He was recently transferred to another province because he refused to approve using government funds to build an over sized statue for the first "Lord of Mae Sai" who lived 400 years ago. He is a modest man but sounds very competent and knowledgeable. I would not be surprised if he became Prime Minister in a few years.
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