Boy who was rescued from Thai cave dies in UK

A teenage boy rescued from a flooded Thai cave in 2018 has died in the UK after reportedly sustaining a head injury. 

Duangpetch Promthep, thought to be 18, was among the 12 young football players on the Wild Boars team who, along with their coach, became trapped by rising floodwaters in the cave, prompting an international rescue operation that lasted 18 days.

Their story and eventual rescue by a team of nearly 100 divers gripped global attention and has since inspired multiple films including 2022’s ‘Thirteen Lives’ starring Colin Farrell.

The cause of Promthep’s death is currently unclear, but reports in Thailand say he suffered a head injury. 

Police confirmed Promthep, 17, was found unconscious in his Leicestershire dorm on Sunday and taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday.

Promthep had enrolled at the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester late in 2022 when he was 17 after winning a ‘dream’ scholarship to study and play football in the UK. 

He had excitedly shared photographs of his time in the UK on social media, with images of him in London and studying at college. One was captioned: ‘Don’t worry, dad. I will study hard. I won’t disappoint you.’

Another post read: ‘Today my dream came true. I’m going to be a football student in England.’

Duangpetch Promthep (pictured centre) was among the 12 young football players on the Wild Boars team who became trapped by rising floodwaters for two weeks

Last year Promthep celebrated his first Christmas in the UK after moving to enroll at a Leicester football academy 

Promthep, circled, is pictured with members of his Wild Boar football team following the rescue

After news of Promthep’s death reached his old football team who he had been trapped with many wrote heartbreaking messages to him on their social media accounts. 

Close friend Prachak Sutham said: ‘You told me to wait and see you play for the national team, I always believe that you would do it.

‘When we met the last time before you left for England, I even jokingly told you that when you come back, I would have to ask for your autograph.

‘Sleep well, my dear friend. We will always have 13 of us together.’

Another member of the Wild Boars football teamTitan Chanin Viboonrungruang said: ‘Brother, you told me that we would be achieving our football dream… if the next world is real, I want us to play football together again, my brother Dom.’

Announcing his passing, the principal of Brooke House College Ian Smith said the school was ‘deeply saddened and shaken’.

A statement reads: ‘Brooke House College is devastated to confirm the passing of our student, Duangphet Phromthep, known as Dom, yesterday in hospital.

‘This event has left our college community deeply saddened and shaken. 

‘We unite in grief with all of Dom’s family, friends, former teammates and those involved in all parts of his life, as well as everyone affected in any way by this loss in Thailand and throughout the college’s global family.

‘The college is liaising with statutory authorities and the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and dedicating all resources to assist our student body, as they as young people process Dom’s passing. 

‘Beyond that we are unable to comment further at this time and would ask for privacy and compassion as we continue to support the students in our care at this time drawing on the kindness and assistance of the Market Harborough community.’

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: ‘Shortly before 1pm on Sunday (12 February) police were called to a boarding school in Leicester Road, Market Harborough by the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

‘The call concerned the welfare of a pupil.

‘The pupil – a 17-year-old boy – was taken to hospital. He has since died.

‘The boy’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.’

Also reacting to the tragic news, the British ambassador to Thailand  Mark Gooding said that he was offering his condolences. 

He said: ‘I am saddened to hear that Dom Duangpetch Phromthep, captain of the Wild Boars football team from the 2018 Tham Luang cave incident, has died in the UK. 

‘My condolences to Dom’s family and friends. ‘

The 2022 film ‘Thirteen Lives’ was directed by Ron Howard and is one of three films made about the rescue operation including 2019’s ‘The Cave’ and 2021’s ‘The Rescue’.

Debuting on Netflix, ‘Thirteen Lives’ was critically acclaimed and starred Collin Farrell, Viggo Mortenson and Joel Edgerton as rescue crews scouring the caves. 

After arriving in the UK, Promthep shared numerous snaps of his new life at the Leicester football academy. 

Photos shared on social media include snaps of him and his friends playing football as well as shots of him celebrating a ‘very cold first Christmas in the UK’.

Other photos show the teenager playing with his friends outside of lessons at the plush Market Harborough independent school. 

Since arriving, pictures show the teenager was able to go on school trips to tourist sights such as Tower Bridge in London. 

In one post, he wrote: ‘Today my dream came true. I’m going to be a football student in England. 

Promthep was filmed smiling at the camera of the rescue team after he and his team waited for 18 days in the darkness of the cave

Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton and Viggo Mortensen in a scene from ‘Thirteen Lives’

Promthep (pictured with his father) promised he would ‘study hard’ in the UK

Promthep shared several snaps taken whilst enrolled at the football academy 

The teenager also shared pictures of him working hard in lessons in between his football training

Promthep also shared with his followers his love for traditional English fry ups 

Promthep (centre) pictured on a trip to London Bridge last year after moving to the UK

‘I would like to thank sport education and Chico foundation for giving me a scholarship in England. 

‘Thank you Brooke House College Football Academy for giving a scholarship to football development to children from other provinces like me.’

In another post, the young footballer urged those interested in pursuing further education to enquire about a place in his academy where he was coached by ‘Premier League referee Micky Adams.’

A keen football lover, Promthep and his Thai teammates ventured into the Tham Luang cave on June 23, 2018.

The boys were trapped in the complex from June 23 in 2018 for 18 days, before they were saved by a team of specialist divers, led by British expert Vernon Unsworth, 67, and Thai Navy Seals. 

Mr Unsworth later sued billionaire Elon Musk for libel after the Tesla mogul branded him a ‘pedo’ during an online disagreement at the time of the rescue. 

News of Promthep’s death was revealed by his mother, who informed the Wat Doi Wao temple in Chiang Rai in his hometown. 

A Buddhist monk named Supatpong Methigo claims that the teenager hit his head and couldn’t be saved. 

They said: ‘Duangphet Promthep has gone to a good place.’ 

MailOnline has contacted the Brooke House College Football Academy. 

Promthep was invited to the British embassy in Bangok by Deputy Ambassador Mr Dave Thomas after receiving his football scholarship

The football-mad teenager described it as a ‘dream’ to move to the UK and study

He wrote: ‘Today my dream came true. I’m going to be a football student in England’

Promthep and his team’s rescue from the cave system is still a topic of national interest 

Promthep and his team’s rescue from the cave system is still a topic of national interest. 

A pool known as the Emerald Pool, where water from the cave rescue was pumped, and a statue of a former Thai Navy Seal who tragically died during the three-week rescue operation has been promoted as tourist attractions by the Chiang Rai provincial public relations office.

Saman Kunan, the 37-year-old former Thai Navy Seal, died of asphyxiation during the rescue operation while delivering oxygen to the trapped football team.