Can his cave adventure Thailand 2018 had a happy ending, but fate had other plans for 17-year-old Duangphet Fromthep (or “Home”), who died in Britain.

The teenager was one of 12 boys trapped for 17 days in a flooded cave in their native Thailand. The successful rescue operation of the members of the youth football team and their coach made a splash all over the world.

According to what has come to light from British and Thai authorities, Dom was found dead in his room at the football academy where he studied in Leicestershire, UK.

The unfortunate boy was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of his death has not been released, although the 17-year-old reportedly had no health problems.

Scary rescue story

Dom was the captain of the 12-man Wild Boars football team, whose members, along with their coach, were trapped in Tham Luang Cave in June 2018.

The children spent nine nights in a cave with little food and water, and their coach, a former monk, showed them breathing techniques to help them cope with hunger and thirst, as well as lack of oxygen.

Finally, the diver spotted the group huddled together on a small patch of land surrounded by water. An international rescue operation was immediately organized with the participation of professional divers from all over the world, while the whole incident went viral around the world.

It took eight more days (17 in total) to save all the boys and their coach.

The story of the Wild Boars was filmed by Ron Howard in 2022 and made into a documentary on Netflix.

Over the years after the rescue, the boys grew up and went their separate ways: some continued their football careers (with more or less success), some left Thailand, one of them (the only boy who knew English and communicated with rescuers) studies in the USA. Their coach built his own football academy, which is famous in Thailand.

According to Associated Press, BBC.