A Thai navy diver working as part of the effort to rescue a dozen boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave has died from a lack of oxygen. Samarn Kunan, a former Thai SEAL, was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters. Thai SEAL commander Arpakorn Yookongkaew said while underwater, the rescuer passed out and efforts to resuscitate the 38-year-old failed.
‘Despite this, we will continue until we accomplish our mission,’ Mr Arpakorn said. Mr Kunan was trying to reach a cavern set up as a command centre 1.2miles inside the cave system when he ran out of air at 2am local time. He was returning to the centre after placing oxygen tanks through the cave’s underground network A diving partner tried to revive him but was unsuccessful. His body has been sent to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok and will be flown to his hometown in Roi Et for a royally-sponsored funeral, the Thai king announced.