Soccer team, coach freed from flooded cave in Thailand after three days of rescue operations

“The 12 Wild Boars and coach have emerged from the cave and they are safe,” the Thai navy SEAL unit said on its official Facebook page.

The rescue operation began on Sunday, when four boys, who were accompanied by Navy SEALs, were freed from the cave. Four more were rescued on Monday, and the remaining four boys and the coach were rescued on the third and final day.

According to the head of the operation, Narongsak Osottanakorn, they expected the final leg of the rescue efforts to be “more challenging” because one more survivor would need to be brought out than previous days.

Twelve boys between the ages of 11-16 on the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were trapped June 23 while exploring a cave after soccer practice and were trapped after an unexpected downpour flooded parts of the cave.

The group was trapped for nine days before they were discovered huddled on a muddy bank last Monday by British divers.

Authorities predicted the cave evacuation operation could take three to four days, and they are on track to finish in three if the 12th boy and the coach are rescued by the end of the day.

President Trump Tuesday morning congratulated the Thai Navy SEALs on successfully liberating the 12 boys and their coach from the cave.

“On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand,” Trump tweeted. “Such a beautiful moment – all freed, great job!”