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The Thai boys rescued after spending days stranded in caves were given anti-anxiety drugs to ensure they were as calm as possible during the rescue process.
At a press conference overnight following the dramatic rescue of the last of the four boys and their 25-year-old coach, Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha said they were given the medication so they wouldn't panic.
"Like us, we take antihisteamines to make us feel well, not excited," he said.
!['Thai Navy SEALs came out safely. Hooyah Hooyah Hooyah,' the group posted on Facebook.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/r39jYuUbTCRvje4f4MR7ebAE0hs=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F02%2F29%2F110718_seals.jpg)
"If they were choloroformed how could they come out? It's called anxiolytic something to make them not excited, not stressed."
The release of the remaining five Wild Boars soccer team brings a successful end to the perilous mission that gripped the world for more than two weeks.
The team, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach became trapped on June 23 while exploring the Luang Nang Non cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai when a downpour flooded the tunnels.
"We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave," the Navy SEAL unit, which led the rescue, said on its Facebook page, adding everyone was now safe.
The final journey took just three hours, compared to 11 hours in the first few trips the divers undertook.
![Thai medics and soldiers evacuate one of the last two members of a child soccer team and assistant coach by a police helicopter. Picture: EPA](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/Swx6bLBPn_FcRV_0bU0MESrlX1M=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F07%2F16%2F110718_newchopper_AP1.jpg)
![Royal Thai police ambulance evacuates a cave trapped boy to hospital after he was rescued from the Tham Luang cave overnight. Picture: EPA](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/kgaqU0Gz1JXUqVEOAZX4ZTvjWDQ=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F07%2F16%2F1101718_thainew_AP1.jpg)
Speaking after the whole group was freed, mission leader and acting Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osatanakorn said: "We did something nobody thought possible."
Path to freedom
British divers found the team hungry and huddled in darkness on a muddy bank in a partly flooded chamber several kilometres inside the Tham Luang cave complex, on Monday last week.
![The Wild Boars football team captured the hearts of the world.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/FzQYqzMvKDrj0GDgHQxR6pR_nns=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2FNetwork%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F00%2F05%2F100718_thaiboys_env_sp.jpg)
![Thai media celebrate after learning the last of the group have been freed. Picture: AP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/6zvvKtdQtdhs21pMMMvNJG_-lrk=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F09%2F18%2F110718_familycheering_ap1.jpg)
A rescue operation was launched on Sunday when four of the boys were brought out, tethered to rescue divers.
Volunteers from as far away as Australia and the United States helped with the effort to rescue the boys.
Another four boys were rescued on Monday and the last four and the coach were brought out yesterdy, prompting rounds of spontaneous applause.
![This reaction sums up how the world was feeling when all members of the group were rescued.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/Mzp5R7L0MXW0oVIQnLgWm_zJDfY=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2FNetwork%2FHome%2FStreams%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F00%2F56%2F100718_thaiyay_env_a.jpg)
![The group spent 18 days and nights underground.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/Nj_1MMuZV6M9HUHcb6g5NlJDBD4=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F11%2F1107_teamphotothailandboys.jpg)
Mr Osottanakorn addressed reporters at the end of the 17-day mission and confirmed that a medic and all navy SEAL divers involved in the rescue mission had left the cave safely.
"Nobody thought we could do it. It was a world first," he said, paying tribute to the multinational team that assisted in the operation. "It was Mission Possible for Team Thailand.
"The heroes this time are people all over the world," he said, referring to the multinational team that assisted in the operation.
"This mission was successful because we had power. The power of love. Everybody sent it to the 13."
Aussie heroes praised
![](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/VCgLUNgMqWm66Tk87ypWnap_n_I=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fcf-images.ap-southeast-2.prod.boltdns.net%2Fv1%2Fstatic%2F664969388001%2Fef498978-f7c5-41ca-9840-5f565eba4559%2Fc3adb1df-f340-46b7-8bd4-c663d2e95b4d%2F640x360%2Fmatch%2Fimage.jpg)
Aussie doctor and diver Richard Harris was a critical part of the team to get the boys out, and is believed to have been the last person who left the cave system.
Dr Harris's incredible efforts drew special praise from the leader of the rescue mission.
"(The Australians) have been a big help, especially the doctor," Mr Osotanakorn told 9NEWS reporter Ben Avery who is on the ground in Chiang Rai.
"Very good. The best – not good – the very best."
Dr Harris's incredible efforts drew special praise from the leader of the rescue mission.
"(The Australians) have been a big help, especially the doctor," Mr Osotanakorn told 9NEWS reporter Ben Avery who is on the ground in Chiang Rai.
"Very good. The best – not good – the very best."
It is understood Dr Harris went into the caves on each of the days to individually sign off on each of the boys' health before they were guided to safety.
Speaking to TODAY, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she, like others around the world, was relieved the extraordinary ordeal was over and praised the Australians for doing their bit to bring about the successful rescue.
"We are absolutely delighted that our rescue team has been able to assist the Thai authorities to bring about this quite remarkable result," she said.
Ms Bishop provided further details about the Aussies involved in the mission, but has not yet spoken to Dr Harris who has worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the past, or his Perth-based dive partner.
"In fact, he (Dr Harris) was in Vanuatu in about 2013 as part of the Australian aid medical assistance team overseas. So he is well known to us," she said.
![Onlookers watch and cheer as a helicopter flies towards an airstrip near where Thai authorities are in the process of rescuing the boys trapped in a cave with their soccer coach. (Getty)](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/74eXRyNMK7nTcVxN2GTDMuRXh_w=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2FNetwork%2FHome%2FStreams%2F2018%2F07%2F09%2F21%2F55%2F090718_thaionlookers_env4_g.jpg)
"He is also an expert in this kind of cave rescue. So I hope to have an opportunity to speak to him at some point. His dive partner, Craig Challen, is a Vet from Perth.
"I am hoping to contact Craig at some point as well."
Ms Bishop said there were 20 Australians involved all up including six Australian Federal Police divers, and a navy clearance diver.
World Cup, hugs and food
The four boys and the soccer coach have been reunited with the the eight other players rescued over the previous two days.
The eight boys brought out on Sunday and Monday were in good health overall and some asked for chocolate bread for breakfast.
![](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/htYwMDpoDDd64JuoMr9W1QafFBU=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fcf-images.ap-southeast-2.prod.boltdns.net%2Fv1%2Fstatic%2F664969388001%2F8c8d78ac-01ff-4206-a638-b88eb6dbd0d4%2F80a86089-5996-44f2-90fe-727841ab159f%2F640x360%2Fmatch%2Fimage.jpg)
Two of the boys had suspected lung infections but the four boys from the first group rescued were all walking around in hospital.
The boys were still being quarantined from their parents because of the risk of infection and would likely be kept in hospital for a week for tests.
Avery confirmed the group are in a specially set up ward inside the hospital where they are expected to remain for the next week.
The boys have undergone a series tests and will be observed by doctors over the coming days.
However the group have not yet had physical contact with their families.
"We know the parents aren't actually allowed to have any physical contact with them," Avery said.
"Blood test results have gone off to Bangkok. They are expected back in the next day or two. Then we will know if they have any infections. If they don't they can have that hug they have been waiting for from their parents."
Aside from wanting to see their families, the boys are reportedly keen to watch the World Cup.
"It does appear that everyone is in relatively good health," Avery said.
"I think there were reports of a couple of the boys having mild cases of pneumonia. They might need to be monitored for longer. No serious life-threatening illnesses among any of them."
What's next?
Brisbane-based Medical expert Dr Bill Griggs told TODAY the group would be facing a series of health challenges including possibly being exposed to viruses and contaminants in the water they had to drink.
![](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/18GaWnDgwHcoOAlVlZOLJCE-QFQ=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fcf-images.ap-southeast-2.prod.boltdns.net%2Fv1%2Fstatic%2F664969388001%2F9198429e-ea32-43f5-86a8-ca514c4dbff4%2F7f4fa8cc-5828-490f-916d-4cb91e28ad9a%2F640x360%2Fmatch%2Fimage.jpg)
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Dr Griggs said there would also be emotional issues to do with including not being able to immediately hug their families.
Physically the group would be adjusting to daylight and being outside again.
"Nutrition is another thing, they wouldn't have normal food yet," Dr Griggs said.
"They would have given sugar solutions and simple things, gradually getting their bodies used to the outside world again."
Dr Griggs said the main advantage the boys had on their side was their youth.
"They are adventurous, they are somewhat fearless. That's a good thing, that's in their favour," he said.
"They are also going to be exposed to a lot of the world's media and a number of other things in the coming days and weeks and potentially months and they'll have to work out how to deal with all of that as well."
© AP 2024