Thai cave rescue latest: How many boys have been rescued today? How did they get trapped?

Chaing Mai cave rescue efforts to save group of 12 trapped boys and their football coach have entered their third day today, and hopes are pinned on divers to save the last stranded few.

Beginning earlier today, the rescue operation has so far been a success with 11 of the 13 now out of the caves and recovering in hospital.

The boys were rescued one at a time, four a day, and it is hoped the final five will be removed in one last push today.

The names of those released have not yet been confirmed, out of respect for parents whose children have not yet been saved.

How many children have been saved today?

Rescue operations today commenced at 10am local time, roughly 3am in the UK.

So far it has been successful, as three boys have now emerged with the help of divers.

This means that a total of eleven boys are now out of the caves, and on their way for hospital observation via helicopter.

There has been no news yet as to whether the football coach is one of the people saved, but there are a total of two people now left inside.

The most recent boys to have been rescued have been stretchered out of the cave system, amid fears that they could have contracted a nasty illness.

Called ‘cave sickness’, the disease is the result of contact with droppings from rodents like bats and rats.

The boys’ malnutrition and exposure to unsanitary conditions inside the caves mean that they are at high risk of contracting cave sickness.

However, those who have been taken to hospital are apparently in good health, and asking for food – including chocolate bread – from hospital staff.

How did the boys get trapped in the cave?

The group of boys belonged to a Thai football team the Wild Boars. They became stuck in the caves with their coach following a practice session on June 23.

They were originally stuck after taking shelter from monsoon rains inside the caves, and walked further in to escape flooding.

More flooding in a number of chambers eventually forced the boys into the place where they had been trapped for the last two weeks

The winding complex now flooded, the group were unable to escape without certain death, and were left waiting for authorities to intervene.

How are the Thai boys being rescued?

The rescue teams originally looked to pursue a number of different options for rescue, with one being to drill in from above.

However, authorities settled on using diving crews to retrieve the group – despite the boys being unable to swim – after meticulous planning.

Change Mai governor Narongsak Osatanakorn was adamant the rescue operation came with “minimal risk”.

Each child has been brought out of the cave complex with the assistance of two divers and a number of oxygen tank stock up points.

Each trip lasts hours, but so far has meant the children have been successfully transferred from the cave to the outside world.