A year later, 12 Thai boys rescued from cave grapple with attention

Bangkok: A year after they found themselves trapped for over two weeks inside a cave in northern Thailand, 12 boys from a youth soccer team and their coach are still grappling with their new-found fame after their harrowing rescue operation captured the world's attention and changed their lives forever in many ways.

The kids are now back in school and the coach opened his own soccer academy in a bid to return to normalcy, though they all find it hard to avoid the spotlight as they are constantly recognised and their social media accounts boast tens of thousands of followers. They have been on several international tours and also have a Netflix movie deal.

The minors - members of the team known as the Wild Boars aged between 11-16 - had entered a grotto in Chiang Rai province with their coach on June 23, 2018, when monsoon rains flooded the cave, leaving them trapped inside.

Due to their new contractual obligations, the boys and the coach are prevented from talking to the press, while a company formed by their parents - 13 Tham Luang (based on the cave's name) - now looks after their image rights. "Now the kids are fine, they go to school normally," said Lt Gen.

Weerachon Sukhontapatipak, head of the government committee created to uphold the children's interests. "After being trapped in the cave, they say they have gained a lot of experience. It was a big deal," he said.

Top News stories of the day

The viral fever that left 32-year-old Mumbai man in coma
In November, when 32-year-old banker Keegan Vaz developed a fever along with a cough and cold, he did, what any of us would do. He went to a local chemist, got some over-the-counter medicines and popped the pills, maintaining the week-long course. He even recovered. Until late November, when he started getting headaches. (Read full story)

Mumbai: Woman thrashes railway staffer for stealing her mobile phone
A video of a woman thrashing a railway staffer has gone viral. The concerned lady, Nandini Belekar, had gone to purchase a railway ticket and mistakenly left her cellphone at the ticket counter of Mumbai Central railway station. (Read full story)

After taking away their roof, Mumbai cops burn their belongings
We do not have any morsel of food left, nor my children have any spare clothes to wear. They (the police) came and burnt them all, saying we cannot stay here. My wife is six months pregnant and my two daughters are unwell. Where will we go?" asks Balu Machindra Chauhan, 30, a day after they were forcibly evicted from Amar Mahal junction, Chembur, by the police. While the state agencies are clear they won't allow encroachments, the incident has once again raised serious concerns about shelter homes for the homeless in the city. (Read full story)

Mumbai Crime: Singer held for stealing car he took out for a test drive
The Charkop police has arrested a 31-year-old music director and singer, for allegedly fleeing with a brand new Volkswagen from a car showroom, on the pretext of taking it out for a test drive. (Read full story)

Mumbai Crime: 23-year-old arrested for flashing school girl in public toilet in Santacruz
A 23-year-old unemployed man was arrested by the airport police for flashing a minor girl in a public toilet in Santacruz East. The public toilet has a common passageway for men and women, the police stated. The man exposed himself to the 11-year-old schoolgirl when she was on her way to the washroom. (Read full story)

Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from Agencies

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates