Family of Thai cave boy long for birthday party reunion
Grilled pork and dessert had been prepared as a post-football birthday treat for Pheeraphat -- known by his nickname 'Night' -- who turned 16 on June 23.
Night's relatives waited that evening to celebrate his birthday -- his 17th by Thai tradition. But he did not come home.
Instead Night, his 11 teammates and their 25-year-old coach made the ill-fated decision to walk into the Tham Luang cave after training.
The boys chipped in to buy snacks to take down to the cave to mark his birthday, relatives at Night's village of Vieng Hom said on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
They speculated it was those snacks that sustained them during the nine-day ordeal before they were found late Monday huddled in the dark on a muddy bank, flood waters ominously beneath them.
It was meant to be very different, says Night's sister Phunphatsa.
"We prepared dinner to celebrate and some relatives came to join."
"The cake is in the fridge. I kept it there to surprise him."
As the hours passed they knew something was wrong, in a tight-knit community now wracked by anxiety for the boys' return.
ADVERTISEMENT
"He never missed any time he was supposed to be home," his sister told AFP.
As the rescue mission drew a blank for days, the family kept the cake because "we still had hope" he would be found alive, Phunphatsa added.
Their village, abutted by rice fields and framed by Northern Thailand's dramatic mountains, is also home to three of the other boys trapped in the cave.
The group still languish inside the cave's 10 kilometre-long passages, with floods blocking their exit, but are now under the care of Thai navy divers and medics.
But fresh rains are forecast and a complex evacuation lies ahead.
ADVERTISEMENT
The distress was eased a little on Wednesday, when fresh video released by the navy showed the team smiling and looking markedly healthier than when they were found two days ago.
"He said: 'Hello, I am Night. I'm fine.'" Night's mother Supaluk told AFP.
"It's very good to see he is safe. I know he will be okay."
Night joined the football team about a year ago and played in goal.
His sister said the four cave boys from Baan Vieng Hom would gather at their house nearly every day before going out to play.
ADVERTISEMENT
It may be days, weeks or even months before they can resume their normal routines.
"I feel it's a long time (to wait)... but it's okay if it makes him safe," Phunphatsa said, adding that without him, "the house is quiet."
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Binance CEO accuses Nigerian officials of demanding secret crypto bribe
KEDCO partners iRecharge to streamline bill payments, prevent revenue leaks
Again, court stalls Ibeto's jurisdiction bid in ₦4.8bn alleged fraud case
Reps alarmed by rising cement prices, considers it harmful to Nigeria's economy
Yusuf signs premarital health screening law to prevent birth defects, others
PoS operators must register with CAC by July 7 - CBN
Sule set to build 3000-capacity hall for corps members to foster friendships
Excessive use of cellphones, computers can make you go blind, here's how
'Enemies of progress': Ben Bruce slams Atiku, Obi over Lagos-Calabar Highway project in viral video
Pulse Sports
Chelsea set to offer Romelu Lukaku and cash for Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen
Mikel Obi: Super Eagles legend goes viral speaking Hausa
Anthony Joshua: Nigerian-born boxer teams up with Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell and Cuppy in France
ADVERTISEMENT
![33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "33 passengers and one crew member died on the dive boat, Conception [Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/AP]")