Rescue of boys, coach trapped in Thai cave has begun: officials

The rescue mission has begun to free 12 young football players and their coach who are trapped inside a cave in Thailand.

The group of boys and their soccer coach are being given a crash course in swimming and diving. Source: AAP

A rescue operation began Sunday to extract 12 boys and their football coach who have been trapped for more than two weeks in a cave in northern Thailand, the head of the mission said.

"Today is the D-day. The boys are ready to face any challenges," rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters near the cave site.

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