Ashes of 'Wild Boars' captain brought back to family in Thailand

BANGKOK - The ashes of Duangpetch Promthep, one of the 12 Thai boys from the 'Wild Boars' football team trapped in a flooded cave in northern Thailand in 2018, was brought back to his family in Thailand today. The 17-year-old Duangpetch, who was the captain of the ‘Wild Boars’, was found unconscious in his dorm in Leicestershire on Feb 12 and died two days later. However, the cause of his death remains unclear.

Zico Foundation chairman, Kiatisuk Senamuang, who was former coach of Thailand’s national football team, brought the ashes back on a flight which arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6.30 am (local time).

Zico Foundation is a non-profit organisation that helped Duangpetch to obtain a scholarship to study at the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester late last year.

The cremation was held in Leicester, England, on Feb 28.

Family members and relatives had travelled from their homes in northern Chiang Rai Province to receive the ashes at the airport.

Duangpetch’s mother, Thanaporn Phromthep, said the family will bring his ashes back to their hometown in Chiang Rai where a ceremony will be held at the temple where his late son was ordained.

She said the ashes will be scattered in the Mekong River in Chiang Saen on Monday.

The dramatic rescue of Duangpetch, along with 11 other team mates aged between 11 and 16 years old and their 25-year old assistant coach who were all trapped in Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai for over two weeks in 2018, captured world attention - BERNAMA