The wife and father of the former Thai navy Seal who passed away helping to rescue those trapped in the Tham Luang cave complex have remembered him as a hero.
Petty Officer First Class Saman Gunan died on July 6 - delivering oxygen to the 12 boys and their football coach - after he lost consciousness due to his own lack of oxygen.
Saman’s wife Waleeporn said she is still coming to grips with her husband’s death.
“It’s like I’ve died, but I’m still alive,” she told the BBC. “But I use pride to repress my sadness.”
“I loved him so much. I really loved him”.
Saman Kunan passed away delivering oxygen to those trapped in the cave. Source: Facebook: Poom Pui
Saman’s tragic death raised questions about the plausibility of saving those trapped in the cave, but eight of the boys have since been rescued.
Waleeporn said her husband loved helping others.
“He’s been praised as a hero because of who he was. He loved doing charity work and getting things done.”
“Every day before he left for work we said we loved each other. At midday we’d text each other to see if the other had had lunch. In the evening when he got home, I would ask him how he was.
“Saman once said we never knew when we would die. We can’t control that, so we need to cherish every day.”
Saman’s father Wichai said he is extremely proud of his son.
“I am very proud but I am very sad, too. I lost my beloved son,” he told the BBC.
“May you rest in peace. Daddy loves you.”
Wichai Gunan said he is extremely proud of his son. Source: BBC
Saman was part of a rescue team made up of divers from some 50 countries, including Australia.
Adelaide anaesthetist and underwater cave explorer Richard Harris, who has 30 years of diving experience, is among those to be making the treacherous journey to the chamber where the boys and their coach have been trapped.
Australia has sent a total of 19 people to help Thai authorities with rescue efforts.
That delegation includes divers from the Australian Federal Police, who reportedly formed part of the “daisy chain” of rescuers who led four of the 12 boys out the cave system to the surface on Sunday.
