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Triathlete dead after heroic dive in Thailand

Ex-Thai Navy Seal, triathlete and hero in Thailand cave rescue efforts, runs out of oxygen

July 6, 2018
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Earlier today, Sgt. Saman Kunan, an ex- Thai Navy Seal, died while delivering oxygen to a soccer team trapped in a cave in northern Thailand.

With the flooding in the region, a soccer team of 12 and their head coach became trapped in one of the caves on June 23rd. Since then, there has been all out rescue mission to bring them home.

Kunan is one of a few divers to have made the five-hour trip to deliver oxygen. It takes a very experienced diver to swim for five hours, especially through the incredibly difficult terrain, jagged rocks and narrow channels. After delivering the oxygen tanks, Kunan then made his return trip home. On the way back, he ran out of oxygen and later passed away, despite efforts of resuscitation. This heroic act has given 13 men life. However the clock is ticking; currently, rescuers are still trying to bring the 12 boys and their head coach home safely.

Sgt. Saman Kunan was a popular man among his peers and one that loved adventure. After he retired from the Navy Seals, he picked up adventure racing and triathlon.

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The 12 boys and their football coach trapped in waterlogged caves in Thailand will not be rescued overnight as they "cannot dive", officials say. The boys have been trapped for nearly two weeks in a chamber in the Tham Luang cave complex. They ventured in while the cave was dry but were caught out by a sudden deluge of rain, which flooded the system. Earlier, a former Thai navy diver died on his way out of the caves after delivering air tanks to those trapped. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the governor of the Chiang Rai region, where the cave is situated, said that the boys had enough strength to walk but could not swim to safety. When asked if a rescue attempt would be made overnight if it started to rain, Narongsak Osotthanakorn said: "No, the boys can't dive at this time." #prawitwongsuwan #samangunan #thailand_ig #chiangrai #newsoftheday #breakthenews

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