World Leaders Congratulate Rescue Of 13 Thai Boys And Coach

By MOHD HAIKAL MOHD ISA BANGKOK, July 11 (Bernama) – World leaders have come out to congratulate the successful mission to rescue 13 young "Mu Pa" (Wild Boar) footballers and their coach, who were trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for 17 days . The last five victims of the ordeal were brought out safely by the rescue team tonight, joining eight of their colleagues who were brought out from the sprawling cave in a similar risky mission on Sunday and Monday. United States President Donald Trump in an immediate statement on his twitter account @realDonaldTrump congratulated the success. "On behalf of the United States, congratulations to the Thai Navy SEALs and all on the successful rescue of the 12 boys and their coach from the treacherous cave in Thailand. Such a beautiful moment – all freed, great job!," he said. The United States' Pacific Command (PACOM) had sent a team of experts to Tham Luang cave to assist the Thai rescue team in the mission. British Prime Minister Theresa May also expressed her delight at the positive turn of events in Chiang Rai, saying in her twitter account @Theresa_May that, "The world was watching and will be saluting the bravery of all those involved." British cave experts have been playing a vital role throughout the rescue mission, becoming the first rescue team to find the boys and their coach inside the cave nine days after they went missing inside the flooded cave complex. Besides the US and British experts, rescue teams from other countries also participated in the risky mission from Myanmar, Laos, Philippines, Japan, China, Australia and several other countries, giving the operations a truly multinational effort. Meanwhile top English football team, the Manchester United Football Club, better known worldwide by the fans as the "Red Devils" was also relieved as the last victims from the Mu Pa Football team was taken out safely from the cave today. The team in a statement via its twitter account also extended an invitation to the 13 footballers and their coach to its spiritual ground, Old Trafford. "We would love to welcome the team from Wild Boar Football Club and their rescuers to Old Trafford this coming season," said the team. With the invitation, Manchester United became the second football organisation after FIFA which also invited the team and their coach to watch the 2018 World Cup Final match in Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15. The team would probably have to miss the trip to the World Cup as all them are currently receiving medical treatment after the cave's ordeal. -- BERNAMA