Push Admin

'You are my very heart': Wife of diver who died in Thai cave mourns a hero

Article (news)

Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/overseas/07/12/20180712-samarn-kunan-rtr.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>An honor guard hold up a picture of Samarn Kunan, 38, a former member of Thailand&#x27;s elite navy SEAL unit who died working to save 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped inside a flooded cave, as family members weep at an airport in Rayong province, Thailand, July 6, 2018. Panumas Sanguanwong, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>BANGKOK - The wife of a former Thai navy diver who died working to rescue a young soccer team trapped for days in a flooded cave said on Thursday she missed him dearly and urged the boys not to blame themselves for his death.The rescued boys smiled and waved from their hospital beds in the first video clip released on Wednesday after an ordeal that has gripped the world.Samarn Kunan, 38, a former member of the elite navy SEALs unit, was the only casualty in a multinational operation to save the boys and their coach after monsoon rains trapped them in the cave they were exploring in northern Thailand.&quot;I love you so much,&quot; his widow, Valeepoan Kunan, wrote in the caption to a black-and-white photograph of her husband she posted on her Instagram account.&quot;I miss you,&quot; she added. &quot;I love you like you are my very heart...from now on when I wake up...who will I kiss?&quot;The world should remember Samarn, the head of the rescue mission told a news conference at the end of the 17-day operation.&quot;Samarn Kunan is the real hero,&quot; Narongsak Osottanakorn said. &quot;On the day that he passed, the entire team was sad, but we used this sorrow. We saw that he gave his life for this cause.&quot;A day earlier Valeepoan posted a picture of her hand clasping that of her husband.People from around the world have offered condolences and commented on Valeepoan&#x27;s social media accounts.&quot;Our hearts go out to you and your family at this difficult time,&quot; read one comment. &quot;Your husband is so brave. The world will not forget his kindness and all he did to save those boys.&quot;A Thai artist has promised to create a statue of Samarn to be erected in Chiang Rai province, where the Tham Luang cave is situated.Samarn, an emergency rescue worker at Bangkok&#x27;s Suvarnabhumi Airport after he left the SEALs in 2006, joined the cave rescue operation on July 1.British divers found the 13 young men huddled on a muddy ledge in a partly flooded chamber inside the cave. Samarn died on July 6 after losing consciousness during a mission to place oxygen tanks deep inside the cave, just two days before the first group of four boys was brought out.During the rescue, some Thais said on social media that the soccer team had been reckless in entering the cave during the rainy season. But Valeepoan absolved them of responsibility.&quot;I want to tell the boys, please don&#x27;t blame yourselves,&quot; Valeepoan told reporters. (Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK Editing by Darren Schuettler)

The wife of a former Thai navy diver who died working to rescue a young soccer team trapped for days in a flooded cave said on Thursday she missed him dearly and urged the boys not to blame themselves for his death.

The wife of a former Thai navy diver who died working to rescue a young soccer team trapped for days in a flooded cave said on Thursday she missed him dearly and urged the boys not to blame themselves for his death.

'You are my very heart': Wife of diver who died in Thai cave mourns a hero

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Overseas

'You are my very heart': Wife of diver who died in Thai cave mourns a hero

Amy Sawitta Lefevre,

Reuters

Published Jul 12, 2018 06:43 PM PHT

Read More:

Thailand

Thai Navy SEAL

Tham Luang cave

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.