Thai cave rescue - LIVE: Mission put on hold 'for at least 10 hours' after four of 12 boys saved by divers

Mission to rescue Thai boys from cave begins

The painstaking mission to rescue 12 Thai boys and their football coach from a flooded cave complex has been paused for up to 20 hours as divers rest and replenish their supplies.

Four of the children have so far been rescued and taken to hospital, while others have undergone health assessments inside the cave.

Officials in Chiang Rai described Sunday as “D-Day”, with expert divers facing a race against time to free the group, who have been trapped for more than a fortnight, before monsoon rains return.

The children will need to be led through the Tham Luang cave, which consists of a series of narrow, waterlogged passageways, for around two-and-a-half miles in poor visibility.

Even the most experienced divers find the route challenging, and a former Thai Navy Seal died on Friday trying to make the journey.

The rescue has become even more urgent following news heavy rains are expected to return to the region, which could shrink the air pocket where the team has been trapped to less than 10 square metres.

Key Points

• Mission on hold as authorities clarify earlier report from rescue official six boys had been freed
• Exclusive: Plastic tube device being tested to save boys 'in case Plan A fails'
• 'This is D-Day': Divers begin mission to rescue Thai boys trapped in cave, as monsoon rain looms
• Thai Navy Seals vow: 'We will bring boys home' in Facebook post
• Four of 12 trapped boys removed from cave with first escapees airlifted to hospital
• Head of rescue effort says operation is going 'better than expected'

[8 July 2018 13:14 · Tom Barnes]

With news that two of the 13 people trapped inside the cave have been rescued, the mission appears to be well ahead of schedule.

Divers, who began the operation at 10am local time (4am BST), had previously said a round trip through the complex would take around 11 hours.

Military officials believed the first boys would emerge at around 9pm (3pm BST), but two now appear to have been saved hours earlier than expected.

[8 July 2018 13:18 · Tom Barnes]

[8 July 2018 13:38 · Tom Barnes]

Pictures have now emerged of the first ambulance taking the rescued boys from the cave site to nearby hospital.

[8 July 2018 13:44 · Tom Barnes]

There are now reports two more boys are following closely behind the first pair to be rescued.

[8 July 2018 13:46 · Tom Barnes]

[8 July 2018 13:49 · Tom Barnes]

A helicopter thought to be carrying the two rescued boys has taken off from a site close to the cave complex.

[8 July 2018 13:52 · Tom Barnes]

A senior member of rescue operation's medical team has told journalists at the scene half of the boys trapped in the cave have now been freed.

[8 July 2018 14:10 · Tom Barnes]

Conflicting reports over how many boys have been rescued so far as Thai Navy Seals say only four have been freed. 

[8 July 2018 14:17 · Tom Barnes]

Smiles from rescue workers as the first boys are brought out of the cavern and back to safety. 

[8 July 2018 14:24 · Tom Barnes]

Donald Trump has tweeted, claiming the US government is “working closely” with Thai authorities to help free the team from the cave.

“Very brave and talented people,” the president added as boys began to emerge from the flooded cavern.