By Feliz Solomon
The mission to rescue 12 young soccer players and their coach trapped in a cave in northern Thailand for more than two weeks involved more than 1,000 people—including a team of international divers. Here, we look at four people, and one group, hailed as heroes for their tireless work.
Ekkapol Chantawong — Coach “Ek”
The 25-year-old assistant coach of the Wild Boars soccer team was initially criticized in Thailand for letting the boys enter the cave but has since been credited with keeping the boys alive. Coach “Ek,” as he is known, is a member of the stateless ethnic Shan minority and joined the Buddhist clergy after his parents died.