Thailand cave rescue boys 'in good health but hungry' as divers prepare to free remaining youngsters and coach together

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All eight boys rescued so far after two weeks trapped in a Thai cave are in good health overall - and even asking for chocolate for breakfast, officials said today.
"At this moment (there are) no worrisome conditions, everyone is safe," Thailand's Health Secretary, Jesada Chokedamrongsuk, told reporters.
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Monhkhol Boonpiam, 13, known as Mark, was the first one rescued
Two of the boys had suspected lung infections but the four boys from the first group rescued were all walking around their beds.
"The kids are footballers, are strong and have high immunity," Jesada said when asked why they survived so long.
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The second boy was Prajak Sutham, known as Note
The boys had a good appetite but were mainly being given bland, easily digestible foods. However, doctors later relented after some of the boys asked for bread with chocolate topping.
They are still being quarantined from their parents because of the risk of infection and would likely be kept in hospital for a week to undergo tests, officials said.
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The third was Nattawoot Thakamsai, a 14-year-old asthma sufferer
The first boy out was Monhkhol Boonpiam, 13, known as Mark. The second boy was Prajak Sutham, known as Note.
The third was Nattawoot Thakamsai, a 14-year-old asthma sufferer - whose parents have already lost a baby daughter to cancer.
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Pipat Bodhi, 15, was the fourth youngster rescued from the caves
The fourth was Pipat Bodhu, 15, aka Nick, who was not even in the team but came along as a friend of the goalkeeper.
The group will be kept under observation in hospital for a week.
© Provided by Credits: AFP
Medical officials gave an update on the boys' condition on Tuesday
The update on the boys' condition came as rescuers resumed preparations for a third operation to free four remaining boys and their football coach who remain trapped deep in the cave complex in northern Thailand.
The third phase of an operation began on Tuesday morning, the head of the rescue mission said.
The heroic rescue in pictures - Provided by Reuters
Narongsak Osottanakorn told a news conference the latest rescue operation began at about 10.08am local time (4.08am UK).
"All five will be brought out at the same time today," he said, to cheers from reporters and rescue workers.
Four more of the boys were carried on stretchers out of the labyrinthine Tham Luang cave on the Myanmar border on Monday, bringing to eight the total number brought out so far after two rescue pushes in successive days.
© Provided by Credits: REUTERS
An ambulance transports one of the rescued boys
Narongsak said rescuers had learned from experience and were two hours faster in bringing the second batch of survivors out as scattered monsoon rains continued to risk flooding the tunnels with water.
A crack team of foreign divers and Thai Navy SEALs guided the boys during a nine-hour operation through nearly 4 km (2.5 miles) of sometimes submerged channels from where they have been trapped for more than a fortnight.
© Provided by Credits: REUTERS
Rescuers wade in the flooded Tham Luang cave
People across Thailand cheered the rescue operation, including at the Mae Sai Prasitsart school where six of the trapped boys are students.
"I am very happy about those who already made it out and I think everyone will be out today," said Waranchit Karnkaew, 14, who also said the football-mad boys had been closely following games at the World Cup in Russia before they were trapped.
© Provided by Credits: Getty Images AsiaPac
"I want to take my friends to lunch and we will play football together," he told Reuters.
Soccer's governing body, FIFA, has invited the boys to the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday if they make it out in time.
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Rescue organisers say they need 20 hours to replan and replenish oxygen supplies, with the next rescue mission expected to come some time on Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting.
However, organisers declined to confirm whether they would attempt to bring all five out in the third push, with the plan so far being to bring out four at a time.
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The boys and their coach became trapped on June 23
"It is up to the environment. If the rain god helps us, then we may be able to work fast. But if the rain god doesn't help, then it could be challenging," Narongsak said.
The plight of the boys and their coach has drawn international attention, with divers, engineers and medics among others flying in from around the world to assist.
© Provided by Credits: AFP
Technology billionaire Elon Musk went into the cave on Monday and left the rescue team with a "kid-sized" submarine his company SpaceX had built, Thailand's interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said.
Musk said on Twitter: "Just returned from Cave 3. Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids' soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the future."
© Provided by Credits: REX/Shutterstock
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited the cave to inspect the operation and was quoted by Narongsak as saying he didn't want to see this kind of incident happen again on Thai soil.
The "Wild Boars" team became trapped on June 23 when they set out to explore the cave after soccer practice and rains flooded the tunnels.