The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their coach gave a press conference today in which they all looked smiley and happy despite what must have been a very traumatic experience.
The group was freed from the cave eight days ago after a dramatic rescue effort that left one Thai Navy SEAL dead after he ran out of oxygen trying to dive out of the flooded cave.
They became trapped when the cave they were exploring for fun was hit by flash floods on June 23.
Nine days later, the group were found by British specialist divers perched on a muddy outcrop deep within the cave, cold and hungry, but alive.
A massive rescue operation was launched which saw all 13 safely back on dry land after more than two weeks trapped, and they were all rushed to hospital in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand.
What did they say in the press conference today?
Coach Ekaphol “Ake” Chantawong today revealed the trip was not to celebrate one of the team’s birthday, as had been previously reported,.
But in fact, they had all intended to go to his party later that same day – after venturing inside the cave complex.
Also contrary to reports, the boys could all swim and had considered swimming out when sudden rains flooded the cave.
Ake said he and the boys moved backwards through the cave and heard the water rising towards them but not the rain outside.
“We took turns digging at the cave walls,” said the coach, who has been credited with keeping the boys alive by some of their parents.
The team had no food at all until they were found deep in the complex, surviving only on water that dripped down the side of the cave.
Adul Sam-on, 14 said: ”It was in the evening when we were scratching rocks on the top of the boulder and we heard voices.”
At first, they didn’t believe the voices were real, but then there they were: the divers who had risked their lives to find them.
Doctors said all 13 were in good physical and mental health after recuperating in hospital.
The boys had gained 6.6 lb each on average since the rescue and ran through confidence-building exercises ahead of Wednesday’s event, the hospital director said.
The press conference was tightly controlled.
Journalists had to submit their questions for approval by a child psychologist in advance to prevent any unnecessary upset.
Ministry official Tawatchai Thaikaew, who asked for the boys’ privacy to be respected ahead of the conference said: “We don’t know what wounds the kids are carrying in their hearts.
“The media know the children are in a difficult situation, they have overcome peril and if you ask risky questions then it could break the law.”
How will the boys adjust back in normality?
Dr Andrea Danese, Head of the Stress & Development Laboratory at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, told Express.co.uk: “The boys need to go back to their normal life, to their daily routines, in order to fully appreciate that the threat is over.”
However, Dr Danese warns that the threat to their mental health will take longer to pass.
“I would expect 10-20 percent of the boys may develop longer-term psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or possible conduct problems and substance abuse.
“Therefore, the boys should be carefully assessed and monitored over time after being reunited with their families.”
Dr Danese warns that media attention, while it won’t be avoidable, “will need to be carefully managed.”
For now, however, the boys are heading home to be reunited with their families and can finally enjoy some of the pork and rice they longed for while in the cave.