Trapped in a Cave

    The boys in the cave were on the Wild Boars soccer team. Earlier that day, they had hopped on their bikes after practice. Their assistant coach, “Coach Ek,” was with them. He often took them on trips.

    The boys rode through farmland and into the mountains. At the mouth of the cave, they set down their bikes. A sign warned visitors not to enter the cave during the rainy season. That’s when the cave floods. Luckily, the rainy season was still weeks away.

    But that year was different. The climate had been changing. In recent days, the area had gotten more rain than usual.

    The boys in the cave were members of the Wild Boars soccer team. Earlier that day, they had hopped on their bicycles after practice. They were close with their assistant coach, “Coach Ek,” and he often took them on outdoor adventures like this one.

    Before long, the boys were riding through farmland and into the mountains. At the mouth of the cave, they set down their bikes. A faded sign warned visitors not to enter the cave during the rainy season, which is when the cave floods—but the boys knew the rainy season was still weeks away.

    Unfortunately, the boys’ knowledge of the rainy season wouldn’t help them. The climate had been changing. In the days leading up to June 23, rainfall in the area had been unusually heavy.

    The boys entered the cave. They were in a big room. Stalactites hung down like dragon teeth. As they went deeper into the cave, it became completely dark. They were having fun exploring. So they stayed longer.

    Three hours later, the boys decided to head back. Then they saw the water blocking their way. Coach Ek told the boys the water would go down. The team found an area of dry ground. They got ready to spend the night.

    The boys had no food. But they did have water. The  water dripping from the cave walls was clean. It had been filtered through the rocks. The boys cupped their hands to catch the drops. They drank the water. Then they went to sleep.

    The boys stepped through the cave’s entrance and into a spacious, airy room where thick stalactites hung down like dragon teeth. As they traveled farther into the cave, they were plunged into complete darkness. They were having so much fun exploring that they delayed leaving.

    Three hours later, the boys finally decided to head back—but when they did, they saw the swirling water blocking their way. Coach Ek calmly told the boys the water would go down, and the team located an area of dry ground where they could spend the night.

    The boys hadn’t brought any food with them, but at least they had water. The water dripping from the cave walls had been filtered through the rocks, cleaning it. The boys cupped their hands to catch the drops. Then one by one, they fell asleep.

    The boys’ families got worried. They called for help. A rescue group rushed to the cave. It was raining hard.

    At the cave’s opening, the rescuers saw the water. They knew the boys must be trapped. Once the cave flooded, the water wouldn’t go down until the end of the rainy season. That was months away.

    The rescue team got to work. An expert caver was called in. He had made maps of the cave. A team of Thai navy SEALs arrived too. The SEALs are highly trained divers. But they didn’t have the gear or experience to dive through a flooded cave.

    On June 26, the rescue workers were losing hope. Were the boys still alive? They had been trapped for three days. The water was cold and murky. The current was strong. Only a few people in the world could dive in water like that. Without those divers, the boys would die.

    As the boys slept, their worried families called for help. A local rescue group rushed to the cave. It had started raining heavily.

    At the cave’s opening, the rescuers saw the swirling water and realized the boys must be trapped. Once the cave flooded, the water wouldn’t go down until the end of the rainy season, which was months away.

    The rescue team sprang into action. An expert caver who had created maps of the cave was called in, and a team of Thai navy SEALs arrived. The SEALs are highly trained divers, but they didn’t have the gear or experience to dive through a flooded cave.

    On June 26, the rescue workers were beginning to lose hope. They couldn’t be certain the boys were still alive after being trapped for three days. The water was cold and murky, and the current was strong. Only a few people in the world could dive in conditions like that. If those divers didn’t come right away, the boys would die.

    By this point, the Wild Boars were very hungry. The cave was damp and chilly. Coach Ek kept reminding the boys how strong they were. “Keep fighting,” he told them. “People are looking for us.” And he was right. 

    More than 1,000 volunteers had gathered at the cave entrance. It became known as base camp. Scientists, members of the military, and doctors had joined the rescue mission. The world’s best cave divers had come to help too.

    On July 2, two expert divers dove into the water. After a while, they found an air pocket in the cave. One of the divers rose to the surface and took off his mask. He was hit by an awful smell. It was human waste! That meant the boys must be close by. Moments later, he saw all 12 boys and Coach Ek. 

    The news spread around the world. The Wild Boars were alive! But they needed food and supplies. And getting to them wouldn’t be easy. Cave divers would have to squeeze through narrow passages. Their gear could break. One wrong move could be deadly. 

    Despite the danger, six SEALs and a Thai army doctor were able to reach the boys. They brought food, medicine, and blankets. Over the next few days, the SEALs made more dives to deliver supplies.

    Then tragedy struck.

    Late on the night of July 5, one of the SEALs drowned. His death sent a wave of sadness through base camp. But the other SEALs knew they still had a job to do. They needed to get the boys out alive.

    The boys were hungry. The cave was damp and cold. Coach Ek reminded the boys how strong they were. “Keep fighting,” he said. “People are looking for us.” And he was right.

    More than 1,000 volunteers had gathered at the cave entrance. It became known as base camp. Scientists, members of the military, and doctors gathered there. The world’s best cave divers had come too.

    On July 2, two expert divers dove into the water. They found an air pocket in the cave. One diver rose to the surface and took off his mask. There was an awful smell. It was human waste! This meant the boys must be close by. Moments later, he saw the boys and Coach Ek.

    The Wild Boars were alive! But they needed food and supplies. And reaching them wouldn’t be easy. Cave divers would have to squeeze through narrow passages. Their gear could break. One wrong move could be deadly.

    Still, six SEALs and a Thai army doctor reached the boys. They brought food, medicine, and blankets. Over the next few days, the SEALs went back with more supplies.

    Then tragedy struck.

    On the night of July 5, one of the SEALs drowned. His death sent a wave of sadness through base camp. But the other SEALs knew they still had work to do. They had to save the boys.

    As the hungry soccer players huddled in the damp and chilly cave, Coach Ek kept reminding them how strong they were. “Keep fighting,” he told his players. “People are looking for us.” And he was right.

    More than 1,000 volunteers had gathered at the cave entrance, which became known as base camp. Scientists, members of the military, and doctors gathered there. The world’s best cave divers had also come to help.

    On July 2, two expert divers dove into the water. After a while, they located an air pocket in the cave, and one of them surfaced and removed his mask. He smelled human waste, which meant the boys must be nearby. Moments later, he spotted all 12 boys and Coach Ek.

    The news spread around the world. The Wild Boars were alive! But they needed food and supplies, and getting to them would be incredibly challenging. Cave divers would have to squeeze through narrow passages. Their gear could break. One wrong move could be deadly.

    Despite the danger, six SEALs and a Thai army doctor managed to reach the boys, bringing food, medicine, and blankets. Over the next few days, the SEALs made more dives to deliver additional supplies.

    Then tragedy struck.

    Late on the night of July 5, one of the SEALs drowned. His death sent a wave of sadness through base camp. But the remaining SEALs knew they had to stay focused on their mission: to get the boys out alive.

    On July 8, the rescue team headed into the cave. They had decided divers would carry the boys out through the water. The plan was risky. It was possible that not everyone would survive.

    A 14-year-old boy named Note would be the first one brought out. He was given a breathing mask attached to an air tank. A diver pulled him underwater. With one hand, the diver held a rope. It would guide him through the murky water. With the other hand, he held Note.

    After more than five hours, the diver reached an area where 100 rescuers were waiting. The rescuers passed Note from hand to hand until he was finally at the mouth of the cave. The first boy was saved.

    On July 8, the rescue team headed into the cave. Divers planned to carry the boys out through the water. The plan was risky. People could die.

    A 14-year-old boy named Note would be the first one brought out. He wore a breathing mask attached to an air tank. A diver pulled him underwater. With one hand, the diver held a rope. It would guide him through the dark water. With the other hand, he held Note.

    After more than five hours, the diver reached an area where 100 rescuers waited. The rescuers passed Note from hand to hand. Finally, he was out of the cave.

    On July 8, the rescue team headed into the cave. They had decided divers would carry the boys out through the water. The plan was risky, and there was no guarantee that everyone would survive.

    A 14-year-old boy named Note, the first person the team would attempt to rescue, was given a breathing mask attached to an air tank. A diver pulled him underwater. With one hand, the diver held a rope to guide him through the murky water. With the other hand, he held Note.

    After more than five hours, the diver reached an area where 100 rescuers were waiting. The rescuers passed Note from hand to hand until he was finally at the mouth of the cave. The first boy was saved.

    The news spread quickly: The first boy had been rescued! People around the world cheered. Over the next two days, the other boys and Coach Ek were brought to safety too.  

    Today the boys’ lives are back to normal. But the boys have also changed. They’re more patient. They’re thankful for small things.

    And now some want to become navy SEALs, just like the brave men who saved them.

    The first boy had been rescued! People around the world cheered. Over the next two days, the other boys and Coach Ek were rescued too.  

    Today the boys’ lives are back to normal. But the boys have changed. They’re more patient. They’re thankful for small things.

    And some want to become navy SEALs like the brave men who saved them. 

    The news of the first rescue spread rapidly, and people around the world cheered. Over the next two days, the other boys and Coach Ek were brought to safety too.  

    Today the boys’ lives are back to normal, but the boys themselves have changed. They’ve become more patient. They feel gratitude for small things.

    And now some want to become navy SEALs, just like the courageous men who rescued them. 

^{ABRIDGED EXCERPT FROM ALL THIRTEEN. COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHRISTINA SOONTORNVAT. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER CANDLEWICK PRESS, SOMERVILLE, MA.}

^{ABRIDGED EXCERPT FROM ALL THIRTEEN. COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHRISTINA SOONTORNVAT. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER CANDLEWICK PRESS, SOMERVILLE, MA.}

^{ABRIDGED EXCERPT FROM ALL THIRTEEN. COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHRISTINA SOONTORNVAT. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER CANDLEWICK PRESS, SOMERVILLE, MA.}