Tragic Death of Wild Boars Soccer Team Captain, Duangpetch Promthep, at 17 Years Old

A 17-year-old Thai soccer player who was part of the Wild Boars team rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018 has died in the UK, British and Thai officials announced Wednesday.

Duangpetch Promthep, known as Phromthep, was the captain of the Wild Boars soccer team that was stranded in floodwaters in the cave in northern Thailand in June 2018. He was enrolled in a soccer academy in Leicestershire, England, and had been studying there on a scholarship from the Zico Foundation, a Thai non-profit organization.

Leicestershire Police said in a statement to CNN that Phromthep was rushed to hospital on Sunday and died shortly after. The northern regional branch of the Thai government’s public relations arm said on Facebook that Phromthep died due to an accident, without providing more details.

The dramatic rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team from the cave in 2018 captured global attention. The team had been exploring the cave when they were trapped by rising floodwaters. After a weekslong operation, all 12 boys and their coach were rescued.

Phromthep’s death has been met with sadness in Thailand and abroad. The Zico Foundation wrote on Facebook Wednesday that they were “deeply saddened” by the news. They said that Phromthep was “a kind and gentle young man who will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.”