Otherwise, they would miss Night’s party. The Wild Boars knew they should turn back. About one mile in, they came to a junction. Light from the outside world faded away.īut the boys weren’t scared. As they walked, the cave grew narrower and narrower. Thick stalactites hung down like dragon teeth. The boys stepped through the cave’s entrance and into a big, airy room. They dreamed of tomorrow, when they’d be able to get out. Then one by one, they drifted off to sleep. The boys cupped their hands to catch the drops as they fell. The water dripping from the cave walls had been filtered through the rocks, cleaning it. They hadn’t brought any with them.Īt least they had the most important thing: water. His teammates were thinking about food too. Night thought about his party, about the delicious food his mother had been cooking all afternoon. They found a section of fairly dry, sandy ground. He said they should find a place to sleep for the night. But when they returned to the junction, there was only swirling water.Ĭoach Ek calmly told the boys the water would surely go down. Three hours later, the boys decided to head back. They kicked off their flip-flops, dropped their backpacks, and continued.
But now, deep in the cave, they felt a tug that cavers know well: What if we go just a little farther? The Wild Boars knew they should turn back if they were going to make it to Night’s party. About one mile in, they came to a junction where the tunnel forked in two. They breathed in the smell of wet, mossy limestone. And in the days leading up to June 23, the area around the cave had seen more rain than usual. The heavy rains were still weeks away.īut a changing climate has been making the seasons less predictable. The boys were sure they were safe though. They walked past a faded sign warning visitors not to enter during the rainy season, because the cave floods. At the mouth of the cave, they set down their bikes and swapped their cleats for flip-flops. Soon, they were winding through farmland and into the mountains. The boys scarfed down some snacks and hopped on their bikes. Though they were of different ages and went to different schools, the Wild Boars were all good friends. And they were close with their assistant coach, Ekkapol Chantawong, nicknamed “Coach Ek.” Coach Ek often organized outdoor trips for them, like this one to the Tham Luang cave. None could have imagined the day would end in disaster. Earlier that day, the boys on the Wild Boars soccer team had been joking around after practice.
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