Trapped Cave Football Team Are Free: All 12 Boys And Their Coach Have Been Removed From Flooded Tunnels In Thailand After Daring Rescue Mission

All 12 youth football players (bottom right) and their coach Ekaphol Chantawong, 25, (inset right) are now reported to have been rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand after a three-day operation. The final four school boys and their coach, who had been trapped in the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai for 18 days, were carried out on stretchers to waiting ambulances on Tuesday afternoon local time. 

Among those extracted, today is the youngest member of the team, 11-year-old Chanin Wiboonrungruang, whose nickname is Titan. The governor of the rescue mission had previously said Tuesday's operation would be more difficult than the previous two days, due to the increased number of people who need to be evacuated. Following the final five will be four Thai Navy SEALs - including a medic - who will be extracted once the team are freed today.

Is he out: The 11th boy to have been rescued is reportedly  11-year-old Chanin Wiboonrungruang (second left), whose nickname is Titan

The Thai Navy SEALs confirmed the success of the operation on their official Facebook page, writing: '12 wild boars and coach out of the cave. Everyone is safe. Now just waiting to pick up four frogs [Navy SEALs]. Hooyah.' 

The later added: ‘We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave.’

The 12 boys and their coach became trapped during a visit on June 23 when monsoon floods blocked the cave exit and forced them back three miles into the mountain.

They ended up stranded on a ledge, starving in the darkness,  until they were found by a team of British divers over a week later.

Earlier today, while friends and families were still anxiously awaiting news of the final stages of the rescue, the wife of the Wild Boar FC's head coach - who did not go with them into the cave - shared a heartwarming video of support, showing images of the young 12 players.

'As long as you fight , as long as you believe in yourself we will go through the bad things and will succeed in life,' Thitiporn Anurakkhana wrote in the caption.

'Take lots of rest to recover your body everyone and we will have a party for you all. We’ll do soccer practice together again. I’m rooting for you. #surelyiwanttogiveeveryoneahug #keeponfightingeveryone #wildboarfamily #keeponfighting!' 

He added: 'They are diving in something that is considered an extremely hazardous environment, in zero visibility, the only light in there is the torches you bring yourself.

'We were obviously very afraid of any kind of panic. I cannot understand how cool these small kids are ... Incredibly strong kids.'

Two of the eight boys rescued on Sunday and Monday are being treated for pneumonia and the other six have hypothermia, a Thai doctor revealed.

The rescued boys are said to be in good spirits and feasting on bread with chocolate spread.

Their relieved parents were forced to wear surgical robes and masks and were not allowed to hug their sons to prevent infection when visiting them in hospital last night. 

The first eight to be evacuated have all been given inoculations against rabies and tetanus, and are all being treated with antibiotics amid fears they may have been bitten by disease-carrying bats inside the huge underground network.

The boys are weak and ravenously hungry, Thailand's public health chief Dr Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk revealed, but have been laughing and joking with staff and officials.

Among the first things the children told medical staff were 'we miss home' and 'we're happy', he added.

However, they are unlikely to be well enough to take up FIFA's invitation to watch the World Cup final in Moscow later this week. 

'All of the boys were suffering from hypothermia when they arrived at the hospital,' Dr Jedsada said.

'But they have all now reached normal body temperature. The hypothermia could have been a result of diving for several hours.