'Thanks for saving me': Twelve Thai boys who were saved in a dramatic rescue after being trapped in a cave for 17 days speak for the first time and reveal they've already ordered their favourite meal – a KFC

  • Twelve boys aged between 11 and 16 listed the dishes they wanted to eat
  • They are recovering in hospital after the dramatic cave rescue in Thailand
  • Basil pork, steak, fried eggs and rice are among the boys' favourite foods 
  • ‘I’m better. I’d like to have KFC' one of the boys said from their hospital bed
  • Hollywood producers gearing up to make film based on the captivating saga

The Thai boys who were evacuated from the flooded cave in a dramatic rescue mission that gripped the world have spoken for the first time.

The youngsters and the coach of their Wild Boar football team thanked the team of divers who brought them to safety and the millions of well-wishes who offered their support from around the globe.

Speaking from their hospital beds the boys, aged between 11 and 16, all said they were in good health and listed traditional Thai cuisine dishes they wanted to eat.

Meanwhile Hollywood producers are gearing up to make a film based on the captivating saga. 

‘Thanks for saving me,’ said Prajak Sutham, who is known as ‘Note’, said simply.

‘I’m in good health.’

Adul Sam-on, who greeted British divers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen who first discovered the trapped boys, spoke in English in a video released by the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital where they are being treated.

He said: ‘I’m very fine. Thank you heavy [a lot].

‘Thank you so much.’

Like the other boys he listed the food dishes they were longing to eat after their 16-day ordeal – including Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

The boys have thanked people from across the world for their support while they were trapped in the cave

The boys have thanked people from across the world for their support while they were trapped in the cave

One of the boys fist pumps from his hospital bed after he and his football teammates were rescued from the cave

One of the boys fist pumps from his hospital bed after he and his football teammates were rescued from the cave

Two of the youngsters in hospital. They were stranded in the Tham Luang caves in Thailand
Two of the youngsters in hospital. They were stranded in the Tham Luang caves in Thailand

Two of the youngsters in hospital. They were stranded in the Tham Luang caves in Thailand

One of the boys smiles in hospital. The 12 boys and their coach had gone missing while exploring the cave after football practice on June 23

One of the boys smiles in hospital. The 12 boys and their coach had gone missing while exploring the cave after football practice on June 23

Adul said: ‘I’m better. I’d like to have KFC.

Sompong Jaiwong, ‘Pong’, said: ‘Thank you everyone from around the globe for helping us.

‘I’m healthy. I like to east basil pork with a fried egg.’

The boys drawing and writing in their hospital beds as they recover from their terrifying ordeal

The boys drawing and writing in their hospital beds as they recover from their terrifying ordeal

The youngsters wave from their hospital beds after being rescued by divers in a dangerous mission

The youngsters wave from their hospital beds after being rescued by divers in a dangerous mission

Duangphet Premthep, aka ‘Dom’ said: ‘I’m healthy. Thank you for [your] help.

‘I like to have rice with stewed pork leg.

Nattawut Takhamsai, aka Tle, said: ‘I’m healthy. I like to have crispy pork fried with basil. Thank you.’

Pipat Phothi, ‘Nick’, said: ‘Thank you. I’m ok. I like to have rice with roast red pork and crispy pork.’

Rice with roast red pork was one of the dishes the boys want to eat now they are safe
Rice with roast red pork was one of the dishes the boys want to eat now they are safe

Rice with roast red pork was one of the dishes the boys want to eat now they are safe

Pork fried with basil was another dish on the menu for the youngsters, who spent days in the cold dark cave waiting to be rescued
Pork fried with basil was another dish on the menu for the youngsters, who spent days in the cold dark cave waiting to be rescued

Pork fried with basil was another dish on the menu for the youngsters, who spent days in the cold dark cave before they were rescued

One of the young footballers wanted to have a steak dinner after being plucked from the cave
One of the young footballers wanted to have a steak dinner after being plucked from the cave

One of the young footballers wanted to have a steak dinner after being plucked from the cave

How calm voice of coach who used to be a monk helped sustain the boys in the days before their rescue 

Ekkapol Chantawong, 25, spent years living as a monk in a Buddhist monastery.

This helped him keep the youngsters calm and composed while they waited to be rescued in the dark cave.

Banphot Konkum, one of the boys' fathers, said Mr Chantawong told the boys to huddle together and stick together as a group.

'He told them to believe that they will survive, and that their families would look for them,' he said. 

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Peerapat Sompiangjai, ‘Nite’ said: ‘I’m healthy. Thank you for your support. I like to have pork barbecue.’

Panumas Saengdee, ‘Mick’ said: ‘I’m fine. I’m safe now. I’m healthy. I like to have pork fried with basil. Thank you.’

The youngest boy, 11-year-old Chanin Wiboonrungruang, aka ‘Titan’, praised the Thai Navy Seals for rescuing the team.

He said: ‘Thank you [Thai] Navy Seals. Thank you everyone for your support. I’m fine.

He added: ‘I want to eat sushi.’

Pornchai Khamluang, ‘Tee’, said: ‘I want to eat fried rice with crispy pork. Thank you for sending us your support.’

Sompong Jaiwong, ‘Pong’, said: ‘Thank you everyone from around the globe for helping us.

‘I’m healthy. I like to east basil pork with a fried egg.’

Mongkol Boonpiam, ‘Mark’ said: ‘I’m fine and healthy. I want to have steak. Thank you Thai people.’

Ekkarat Wongsukjan, ‘Bew’, added: ‘I’m fine. Thank you for your support.’

Rescuers moving equipment in the cave during the dangerous mission to get the youngsters out before the water level rose

Rescuers moving equipment in the cave during the dangerous mission to get the youngsters out before the water level rose

The rescue team making their way through the narrow winding passages in the cave

The rescue team making their way through the narrow winding passages in the cave

The brave rescuers assessing the cave before the 12 boys and their football coach were brought to safety

The brave rescuers assessing the cave before the 12 boys and their football coach were brought to safety

The 25-year-old coach, who led the 12 boys into the Tham Luang cave on the ill-fated mission, thanked Thailand’s military leader and all the rescue agencies involved in the dramatic evacuation.

Ekkapol Chantawong said: ‘Thank you the prime minister, all of the agencies, the [Thai] Navy Seals and all of the doctors.’

He added: ‘I’m fine and I am healthy and able to eat normal food.

‘I want to east fried rice with crispy pork.’

The youngsters, who were marooned in the cave along with the coach of their Wild Boar football team, pose for a selfie in the darkness

The youngsters, who were marooned in the cave along with the coach of their Wild Boar football team, pose for a selfie in the darkness

The Thai boys rescued from a flooded cave in a dramatic intervention which gripped the world sitting up in their hospital beds

The Thai boys rescued from a flooded cave in a dramatic intervention which gripped the world sitting up in their hospital beds

The 12 boys and their coach will released from hospital at the end of next week, Thailand’s Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn announced.

But the minister ordered the boys, their parents and other family members not to give interviews to the media claiming highlighting the youngsters’ plight could have a ‘negative impact on their mental health’.

Piyasakol said: ‘We have advised all patients and their parents to avoid all media exposure because doing so may trigger post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

‘We ask for collaboration from everyone to ensure that each boy spend time with their family and friends as much as possible.’