‘We didn’t expect all 13 out alive’: Inside the Thai cave rescue

Twelve boys and their coach trapped deep within a cave complex. An international team of divers planning one of the most dangerous missions ever to bring them out. And time was running out.

• By James Massola
• The Age

Summer rains were about due on the hot, humid Saturday afternoon of June 23 in the remote northern Thai border town of Mae Sai.

The 12 young members of the Wild Boars soccer club and their 25-year-old-coatch, Ekapol ”Ek” Chantawong, rode their bikes to the Tham Luang cave complex to go exploring for an hour after training.

They hadn’t told their parent and left their bikes propped casually outside the…

• ‘We didn’t expect…