Thai cave boys meet football heroes and watch game at Old Trafford

The 12 boys who were rescued from a Thai cave in July after a three-week ordeal have watched Manchester United play Everton at Old Trafford.

The team of Thai boys pose for a photo on the pitch of Old Trafford.

The team of Thai boys pose for a photo on the pitch of Old Trafford. Source: Manchester United

The 12 boys who were trapped with their soccer coach in a flooded cave in northern Thailand for almost three weeks were guests at Old Trafford for Manchester United's home match against Everton in the Premier League.

Wearing red-and-white United scarves and with a look of excitement on their faces, the boys from the Wild Boars team, aged 11 to 17, took their seats in the directors' box for the game on Sunday. They met United manager Jose Mourinho on Saturday.

The Wild Boars football team, who were trapped in a cave before being rescued, received a round of applause before kick off.
The Wild Boars football team, who were trapped in a cave before being rescued, received a round of applause before kick off. Source: Press Association

The boys' ordeal came to a happy ending in early July when an international team of cave divers brought them out in a complicated rescue mission.

When the boys were rescued, the team had tweeted: "We would love to welcome the team from Wild Boars Football Club and their rescuers to Old Trafford this coming season."

Following the dramatic rescue, England defender Kyle Walker posted a photo of one of the Wild Boars, who was wearing an England shirt, saying he wanted to send them all shirts.

It's not the first time the team have enjoyed the spotlight, since their ordeal. 

They've appeared on Ellen, and were honoured as guests at the Youth Olympics in the Argentine capital.

The "Wild Boars" soccer team recovering in hospital after their ordeal, earlier this year.
The "Wild Boars" soccer team recovering in hospital after their ordeal, earlier this year. Source: AAP

The boys, aged 11 to 16 at the time, and their 25-year-old coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, had been exploring Chiang Rai's Tham Luang cave on June 23 when they became trapped.

They survived nine days on water dripping from rocks before they were discovered on a muddy mound by divers.


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