Thai cave rescue: Duangpetch Promthep's death shatters happiest of endings

[webfact]

Duangpetch Promthep turned 13 when he was trapped inside the Thai cave. Credit Reuters

 

By Jonathan Head
South East Asia correspondent

We still do not know what caused the sudden death of Duangpetch 'Dom' Promthep at the football academy in Britain to which he had been so proud to win a scholarship last year.

 

It casts, for the first time, a sad shadow over a story which until now had not lost its power to inspire, to lift the spirits.

 

The astonishing saga of the Thai boys rescued from the cave in July 2018 was that rarest of things in the news business: a tale with an almost flawlessly happy ending, although two Thai divers died, one during preparations for the rescue and one later from a blood infection picked up in the cave.

 

When we first got news that a group of Thai footballers had gone missing, I had dashed with my colleagues up to Chiang Rai, and then to the entrance of the Tham Luang cave complex, carrying just three days of clothes.

 

Full story: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64658731

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2023-02-18

 

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[soalbundy]

Hopefully there will be an autopsy, his death may not be due to a crime but a fit healthy 17 year old boy doesn't die without a reason.

[pacovl46]

19 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Hopefully there will be an autopsy, his death may not be due to a crime but a fit healthy 17 year old boy doesn't die without a reason.

The first article said he sustained a head injury in a fall. 

[riclag]

These kids united the world in their time of need!

RIP Nong

[metisdead]

A troll post and the replies have been removed.

[ozimoron]

42 minutes ago, riclag said:

These kids united the world in their time of need!

RIP Nong

Indeed. RIP Nong.

[GinBoy2]

The death of a 17 year old is tragic enough.

But this after the trauma that he and the other boys went through is a gut punch, I think to all of us not least his family.

 

For any parent the loss of a child is something you can't imagine, but to have had a miraculous rescue then to to have your son die must be devastating

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

It casts, for the first time, a sad shadow over a story which until now had not lost its power to inspire, to lift the spirits

Think of the happy memories, not the sadness.

He was rescued and did what he always wanted to do, play football.

Eventually winning a scholarship to the UK which must have made him immensely happy.

His last memory was doing what he wanted to do.

At least he didn't pass away on a motorcycle in Thailand.