After their traumatic ordeal deep inside a dark and flooded mountain cave, Thailand's 12 rescued boys and their young soccer coach will now have to navigate a fresh challenge: fame.
The boys, ages 11 to 16, will spend at least a month at home after leaving the hospital this week, health officials said, following a daring rescue from the Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai that captivated the world.
"The world is watching," said Kham-oey Promthep, 64, grandmother of 13-year-old Duangpetch "Dom" Promthep, captain of the Wild Boars soccer team. "He was trapped in a cave, and everyone in the country and from around the world had to come and help him.