Thai football team mourns ex-Navy SEAL, deceased during a rescue mission

The Thai football team and its coach trapped in a flooded cave paid tribute on Saturday to former Thai naval officer SEAL, who died during the spectacular 18-day rescue mission. The volunteer diver Saman Gunan was killed leaving the complex of Tham Laung Cave after delivering supplies to the group.

While they were recovering at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, the boys, aged 11 to "All cried and expressed their condolences by writing messages on a drawing of Lieutenant Commander Saman", Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, Thailand's secretary of public health, said in a statement to BBC News.

The team observed a minute of silence in Saman's honor, according to Jedsada.

Images released by the Thai Public Ministry showed wild boars with their heads bowed and eyes closed during the special moment. "They also thanked him and promised to be good boys," said Jedsada.

A Thai health official said on Wednesday that football players had lost weight during their two-week test, but had water while they were trapped and remained in good health. They are expected to leave the hospital on Thursday, although many are still on antibiotics.

In the video messages of the boys shown at a press conference on Saturday, they were seen wearing surgical masks – a backup against the infection that has been taken since the last one d '. between them was removed from the cavern on Tuesday.

Saman, 38, retired from the Navy SEAL but offered to be a volunteer during the mission. He had engaged in the important mission of helping to replace the oxygen cartridges along the route to where the boys were sheltering to make possible the passage of many hours. He collapsed and died on the 6th of July while diving; According to some officials, his own supply of oxygen has been exhausted. The former SEAL was honored as a national hero, and his cremation ceremony was held Saturday at his home.

Saman received a posthumous promotion to Lieutenant Commander by King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and received the royal decoration of Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the most elated Order of the White Elephant, the SEAL said Saturday on their Facebook page