MAE SAI, Thailand (CBSNEWS.COM/AP) – The third phase of the high-risk rescue operation for a soccer team and their coach trapped in a cave in Thailand is complete.
Divers carried out the final operation to save the remaining four boys and their soccer coach, who had been trapped for more than two weeks.
Officials in the previous two days of the rescue mission did not confirm rescues until the day’s operations were over.
Four boys were rescued Sunday and an additional four emerged Monday.
Rescuers have been taking the strongest boys out first. It may seem counterintuitive, but the reasoning for that was that officials want the boys who have the best chance of surviving to get through the escape route first.
The boys, ages 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach became stranded when they went exploring inside after a practice game. Monsoon flooding blocked off their escape and prevented rescuers from finding them for almost 10 days.
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