Legacy




The head of the rescue mission and former governor of Chiang Rai province, Narongsak Osatanakorn th, said that the cave system would be turned into a living museum to highlight how the operation unfolded. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha acknowledged the statement but highlighted the concerns for tourist safety, stating that precautions would have to be added and correctly implemented both inside and outside to safeguard tourists.

Following the incident, Thailand's Navy SEALs will include cave-diving in their training regimen to be better prepared for similar emergencies.

Three of the boys and their assistant coach were stateless, and officials promised that they would be granted Thai citizenship within six months. On 26 September, the four were granted Thai citizenship. The Thai government has vowed to end statelessness by 2024.

Filmedit

On 10 July 2018, a managing partner of US film production company Pure Flix announced that the firm was planning to create a feature film based on the rescue, with potential for worldwide release. Ivanhoe Pictures of SK Global Entertainment also expressed interest in a separate project, with Jon Chu slated as the director.

The 2019 film The Cave was written and directed by Thai-Irish filmmaker Tom Waller, and features many of the real-life cave divers as themselves.

On 4 May 2020, MGM announced they had acquired the film rights from Pure Flix. Film director Ron Howard will direct the film under his Imagine Entertainment banner. Storyteller Productions and Magnolia Me will co-produce the project. A release date has yet to be announced.

Songedit

A song about the rescue, "Heroes of Thailand" was written on 16 July 2018 by British music producer Will Robinson, with English and North Thailand dialect lyrics, and was performed by the Isan Project featuring Ronnarong Khampha.

Awardsedit

  • Australia: On 24 July 2018, the Governor-General of Australia awarded the Bravery Medal to the six AFP Special Response Group divers and the Navy Clearance diver who supported the diving operation in the cave for having "displayed considerable bravery". Cave divers Doctor Richard Harris and Craig Challen were awarded the Star of Courage for "displayed conspicuous courage". All nine were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for service to the international community through their specialist response roles". On 25 January 2019, Challen and Harris were named Australians of the Year.
  • China: On 18 July 2018, the Thai Ambassador to Beijing hosted a luncheon for the Beijing Peaceland Foundation and Green Boat Emergency Rescue organisation.
  • Thailand:
    • On 13 July 2018, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy (C-in-C), in a letter of commendation, posthumously promoted to lieutenant commander former Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who had died on 6 July, and on 14 July the King of Thailand awarded him with the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant. Commander of the Navy SEALs, Rear Admiral Apakorn Youkongkaew, and Navy SEAL Special Captain Anan Surawan, Commander of the First Special Warfare Corps, were cited in the letter of commendation by the C-in-C for their "outstanding performance, which sets the best example for others in the Thai navy to follow". RADM Youkongkaew had commanded the overall activities of all divers during the operation and CAPT Surawan had commanded the operational center in Chamber 3. The commendation stated that 127 current and former Navy SEAL members and a 32-member medical team had participated in the rescue.
    • On 7 September 2018 the Royal Thai government hosted a reception for all Thai and foreign officials and personnel involved in the rescue. His Majesty the King granted a royal decoration, The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn, to 188 people who were involved in the rescue of the football team—114 foreigners and 74 Thais. The Royal Thai Government Gazette has officially published the list of recipients of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn for Tham Luang cave rescue on 21 March 2019.
  • United Kingdom:
    • On 24 July 2018, the Prime Minister hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street with the Thai Ambassador for the British Cave Rescue Council divers and personnel involved in the rescue.
    • In November 2018, the British cave rescue team were given the Pride of Britain 2018 award for "Outstanding Bravery". The rescued children attended the award ceremony, in London.
    • On 28 December 2018 seven British members of the rescue team were honoured in the 2019 New Year Honours. Stanton and Volanthen each received the George Medal; Jewell and Mallinson received the Queen's Gallantry Medal; and Josh Bratchley, Connor Roe and Vern Unsworth were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire.
  • Stanton, Volanthen, Harris, Mallinson and Jewell were the first ever recipients of the Medal of Valor from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, an American organisation.
  • On 5 January 2019, the Asian Football Federation awarded the Wild Boars a two-year support program, which will provide the club with technical support and training equipment and 100 Molten match balls a year. Three of the boys and their coach were invited to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates to watch Thailand vs. India match on 6 January 2019 as guests of honor.

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