Duangpetch Promthep, one of the twelve boys rescued from a cave in Thailand in 2018, has died in the United Kingdom.
The 17-year-old was discovered unconscious in his dormitory in Leicestershire on Sunday and was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he died on Tuesday.
Since late last year, he had been enrolled in a football academy in the United Kingdom.
He captained the Thai boys’ football team that spent two weeks in a cave near Chiang Rai.
After the lads were found, a diver’s flashlight recorded his grin.
Leicestershire Police say they don’t suspect foul play in the teen’s death. According to reports from Thailand, he sustained a head injury.
Sunday afternoon, Promthep was transported by ambulance to Kettering General Hospital, according to a spokesperson for East Midlands Ambulance Service. Additionally, an air ambulance was sent to the scene.
Dom Promthep’s teammates were ecstatic last August when he announced on Instagram that he had won a scholarship to attend the Brooke House College Football Academy in Market Harborough.
He wrote, “Today my dream has come true.”
Six months later, they still lament the loss of their friend.
After his mother informed the Wat Doi Wao temple in his hometown of Chiang Rai. Which the team frequented, of his passing, news of his death broke.
The temple posted condolences on Facebook: “May Dom’s soul rest in peace,” along with photos of the football team and monks.
His teammates began sending him messages almost immediately.
Prachak Sutham, one of the boys rescued in 2018 with Promthep, wrote, “You told me to wait until I saw you play for the national team, and I always believed you would do it.”
“When we met the last time before you left for England. I joked that I would have to ask for your autograph upon your return.
“Sleep well, my dear friend. We will always be a group of thirteen.”
Titan Chanin Viboonrungruang, another boy, wrote: “Brother, you told me that we would realize our football dream… if the next world is real, I want to play football with you again, Dom.”
Ian Smith, the principal of Brooke House College, stated that the school was “deeply saddened and shaken” by the death.
“We mourn with all of Dom’s family, friends, former teammates, and those involved in every aspect of his life, as well as everyone affected in Thailand and throughout the college’s global family,” he said.
Mark Gooding, the British ambassador to Thailand, tweeted “his condolences to all his friends and family.”
Promthep attended Chiang Mai’s Vachiralai Bee School before moving to the United Kingdom. A devoted football fan, he had played for a Chiang Mai youth team.
His Instagram feed is filled with football-related posts, frequently accompanied by the hashtag #footballismylife.
He sketched his “dream team’s football outfit” with blue and pink stripes in January.
What took place in 2018?
On June 23, 2018, following football practice, the Wild Boars (Moo Pa in Thai) football team, captained by Promthep, raced to the Tham Luang cave on bicycles. It was one of the favorite hangouts of the team.
However, a sudden storm caused the cave system’s narrow passageways to flood, trapping the boys and their coach inside.
Divers discovered them after spending nine days in darkness and without food amidst a desperate search effort involving 10,000 people.
While Promthep was trapped in the cave, he reached the age of 13. At the time, his teammates ranged in age from 11 to 16, while their coach, Ekkaphon Kanthawong, was 25.
The boys used rocks to dig escape holes, while their coach taught them meditation techniques to help them remain calm and use the least amount of air possible.
Divers sent them food and family letters even as they planned their rescue. Eventually, they were released after being sedated with ketamine.
The rescue made headlines around the world, and numerous films, books, and a Netflix miniseries with six episodes were subsequently produced to recount the extraordinary story.
