In 2018, the world was captivated by the dramatic and emotionally charged rescue of twelve boys from the Wild Boars football team and their coach, who became trapped deep inside the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. What began as a routine outing after football practice turned into an international emergency when sudden monsoon rains rapidly flooded the cave system, blocking the team’s exit and leaving them stranded nearly four kilometers from the entrance. Over the next eighteen days, the rescue effort grew into one of the most complex cave-diving operations ever attempted, requiring extraordinary coordination among Thai authorities, international experts, and hundreds of volunteers from across the globe.

Among those who stepped forward was Petty Officer Saman Gunan, a 38-year-old former Thai Navy SEAL who had retired from active duty but returned to support the mission when he learned how critical the situation had become. According to The Asian Parent and reports later confirmed by BBC News and The Guardian, Saman volunteered to assist in transporting oxygen tanks throughout the narrow, twisting cave passages, ensuring that both the trapped boys and the rescue teams would have a reliable supply of air. The treacherous underwater conditions—marked by zero visibility, strong currents, and tight rock formations—required divers with exceptional experience, making Saman’s role indispensable.

Tragically, Saman lost his life during one of these missions. As reported by The Straits Times, CNN, and Reuters, he became unconscious after running out of oxygen while placing tanks along the rescue route in the early hours of July 6, 2018. Despite immediate attempts by his diving partner to revive him, he could not be saved. His death underscored the extreme peril of the operation and the immense sacrifices made by rescuers who risked their lives to bring the boys home.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the rescue continued with even greater determination. Over the following days, Thai Navy SEALs, Australian anesthetist Dr. Richard Harris, U.S. and British cave-diving specialists, and teams from China, Myanmar, Laos, and other countries collaborated to devise a daring extraction plan. As reported by National Geographic and The New York Times, each boy was sedated to prevent panic, fitted with a full-face mask, and guided one-by-one through a labyrinth of flooded chambers by two experienced divers. This unprecedented method had never been tried on such a scale, yet it ultimately proved successful.

Between July 8 and July 10, 2018, all twelve boys and their coach were safely brought out of the cave—an outcome widely hailed as a “miracle of global cooperation.” After their rescue, the boys paid heartfelt tribute to Saman Gunan. Photos published by BBC and ABC News showed them in their hospital beds holding his portrait, expressing gratitude for his courage and acknowledging that his sacrifice played a crucial role in their survival. His widow, Valeepoan Gunan, later said that although she felt profound grief, she took pride in knowing that her husband died “doing what he loved and helping others.”

Today, Saman Gunan is remembered as a national hero in Thailand and a symbol of selfless bravery around the world. Memorials have been erected in his honor, and his story continues to be retold in documentaries, books, and films—including Netflix’s “Thai Cave Rescue” and the National Geographic documentary “The Rescue.” His legacy endures not only in the lives he helped save but also in the global reminder of how ordinary individuals can display extraordinary courage when the world needs it most.