Thai cave footballers ordained as novice Buddhist monks to give thanks for rescue

A group of 11 boys who were trapped in a Thai cave for nearly three weeks have been ordained as novice Buddhist monks.

The group and their 25-year-old coach were ordained in a ceremony attended by around 300 people.

The boys undertook the ceremony to give thanks for their survival and to show their gratitude to all those who helped them

The 12th member of the Wild Boars football team did not go through the religious ritual as he is not Buddhist.

The ordination was dedicated to former Thai navy Seal Saman Gunan, who died during the efforts to rescue the boys from the cave complex.

The boys and their coach wore orange ropes for the ceremony, which took place at the temple near Thailand’s mountainous border with Burma.

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Afterwards, they boys changed into white shirts and blue trousers ready to return to their families.

Their coach, Ekapol “Ake” Chanthawong, stayed in his Buddhist robe as he has committed to an extended period in the monkhood.

The group got stuck in the cave complex when monsoon flooding blocked their exit on June 23. They were found on July 2 and finally brought to safety in a rescue mission that took three days, starting on July 8.

The saga, which received worldwide news coverage, is being commemorated with a museum, expected to open within six months, along with a statue of Saman.