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Miracle in the Cave: The 12 Lost Boys, Their Coach, and the Heroes Who Rescued Them
Featuring never-before-reported details and exclusive interviews with the boys and their coach, the inspiring true story of how twelve members of the Wild Boar Academy Football Club and their coach survived nine days in a labyrinthine cave in Northern Thailand, and of the incredible men and women who pulled off one of the greatest rescues of all time.
For nine days twelve young soccer players and their coach were confined in the dark by rising waters in the caverns of Tham Luang in Chang Rai, Thailand. With no food or drinking water except the condensation found on the cave walls, their survival seemed unlikely. Yet against the odds, a team of determined divers traversed monsoon floodwaters and narrow passageways to find Coach Ek, a stateless orphan devoted to Buddhism, and his young players alive and hopeful.
Liam Cochrane spent more than two weeks on the scene, and was stationed outside of the cave entrance in daily contact with divers and other key members of the rescue team, reporting the story for the Australian Broadcast Corporation. In this mesmerizing and inspiring book, he recounts this ultimate race-against-the-clock event. Filled with never-before-reported details based on exclusive access to both the rescue team, Coach Ek, and members of the soccer team and their families, Daring to Hope chronicles the Wild Boars’ ordeal in the cave, and the rescue plan that unfolded outside—including the contentious political negotiations, the early misadventure that halted the operation for crucial hours, and the death of Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan.
Going deep inside the area between the Thai and Myanmar border, better known for methamphetamines and illegal wildlife trade, Cochrane guides us through every aspect of the adventure-turned-nightmare-turned miracle: the team’s agonizing wait in the darkness; the rescuers’ battle against the forces of nature; the work of international experts who pooled their skills to help. Chochrane evokes the rollercoaster of emotions every step of the way—the terror, optimism, sadness, and joy of this indelible experience.
Filled with a spirit of true grit, Daring to Hope is a courageous tale of perseverance and a celebration of an inspiring moment when the world came together in hope.
For nine days twelve young soccer players and their coach were confined in the dark by rising waters in the caverns of Tham Luang in Chang Rai, Thailand. With no food or drinking water except the condensation found on the cave walls, their survival seemed unlikely. Yet against the odds, a team of determined divers traversed monsoon floodwaters and narrow passageways to find Coach Ek, a stateless orphan devoted to Buddhism, and his young players alive and hopeful.
Liam Cochrane spent more than two weeks on the scene, and was stationed outside of the cave entrance in daily contact with divers and other key members of the rescue team, reporting the story for the Australian Broadcast Corporation. In this mesmerizing and inspiring book, he recounts this ultimate race-against-the-clock event. Filled with never-before-reported details based on exclusive access to both the rescue team, Coach Ek, and members of the soccer team and their families, Daring to Hope chronicles the Wild Boars’ ordeal in the cave, and the rescue plan that unfolded outside—including the contentious political negotiations, the early misadventure that halted the operation for crucial hours, and the death of Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan.
Going deep inside the area between the Thai and Myanmar border, better known for methamphetamines and illegal wildlife trade, Cochrane guides us through every aspect of the adventure-turned-nightmare-turned miracle: the team’s agonizing wait in the darkness; the rescuers’ battle against the forces of nature; the work of international experts who pooled their skills to help. Chochrane evokes the rollercoaster of emotions every step of the way—the terror, optimism, sadness, and joy of this indelible experience.
Filled with a spirit of true grit, Daring to Hope is a courageous tale of perseverance and a celebration of an inspiring moment when the world came together in hope.
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2019
21 people are currently reading
1293 people want to read
About the author
Liam Cochrane
4 books20 followersLiam Cochrane is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Southeast Asia correspondent, based in Bangkok. He spent more than two weeks in Mae Sai covering the cave rescue, one of those weeks stationed outside the cave entrance in the mud.
Liam began his career in journalism in Cambodia in 2004, as a reporter, then managing editor of the Phnom Penh Post. He freelanced in Nepal for two years and returned to Melbourne to host Connect Asia on ABC Radio Australia. Before Bangkok, Liam was posted to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - considered the ABC's toughest correspondent position. He was the only foreign reporter on Manus Island when Australia's asylum seeker detention centre was attacked in 2014.
Liam began his career in journalism in Cambodia in 2004, as a reporter, then managing editor of the Phnom Penh Post. He freelanced in Nepal for two years and returned to Melbourne to host Connect Asia on ABC Radio Australia. Before Bangkok, Liam was posted to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - considered the ABC's toughest correspondent position. He was the only foreign reporter on Manus Island when Australia's asylum seeker detention centre was attacked in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 3, 2019
Miracle in the Cave is about the Wild Boars and their rescue from Tham Luang. Cochrane covered the rescue for the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. The book gives a brief background of the boys and football coach – some of whom were stateless at the time. I don’t usually read such quickly or timely released books. This came as part of a My Book Box selection.
Cochrane’s account is good for a couple reasons. The first is he that he brings to light lesser known aspects of the story – or at least lesser known in the West. For instance, when water was pumped out of the cave, it ended up in rice fields, destroying crops. Cochrane also shows the cultural importance of the cave and explains cultural differences as well as the political climate.
I do wish he had included a photo of Saman Kunan, the diver who died in the rescue.
Cochrane’s account is good for a couple reasons. The first is he that he brings to light lesser known aspects of the story – or at least lesser known in the West. For instance, when water was pumped out of the cave, it ended up in rice fields, destroying crops. Cochrane also shows the cultural importance of the cave and explains cultural differences as well as the political climate.
I do wish he had included a photo of Saman Kunan, the diver who died in the rescue.
October 6, 2019
Easy to read and good account of the Thai boys and coach who were trapped in a flooded cave for two weeks. The author has a good grasp of Thai culture and communicates it easily. I appreciate this account and learned more reading it.
June 12, 2019
Near the end of June, 2018, 12 Thai boys from the Wild Boars soccer team, ranging in ages from 11-15, along with their 25 year old coach, went on an adventure after practice. They rode their bikes to the Tham Luang cave complex to explore for an hour or so. Unfortunately, while they were inside the cave, the ground water inside the cave began to rapidly rise, forcing them deep inside the cave and trapping them there. The boys and their coach were trapped inside for nine days without food and minimal water before they were found 2+miles from the entrance of the cave. They spent an additional six days in the cave (a Thai doctor and 3 members of the Thai Navy SEALS stayed with the boys) while people from all over the world worked frantically to figure out how to rescue them before additional rainfall and lack of oxygen would make successful rescue impossible. After an additional 3 days, all 12 boys and their coach were miraculously rescued by a team of seasoned and experienced cave divers.
This story helps us become acquainted with the boys, their coach, those that worked so hard to rescue them, and the miracles that took place to allow a happy ending. Amazing and inspiring!
This story helps us become acquainted with the boys, their coach, those that worked so hard to rescue them, and the miracles that took place to allow a happy ending. Amazing and inspiring!
May 9, 2019
The Tham Luang cave rescue was an event that caught international attention back last year, where many people both local and foreign flew in to the northern city of Chiang Rai to rescue a group of boys who were stuck deep in a cave as a result of an unexpected torrential rain; I decided to pick up this book to learn the full story.
The incident was a case of a simple adventure gone terribly wrong: a group of boys from a local soccer team and their coach decided on a whim to explore a popular cave that is notorious for its labyrinthine chambers. It was not the monsoon season yet so access was available, yet Mother Nature proved to be predictably unpredictable, and an unanticipated downpour made me stuck deep in the caves, eventually capturing everyone's attention to rescue them as soon as possible before they starve or suffocate to death.
It garnered an unusual amount of international attention, where people ranging from seasoned cave explorers to the Thai Navy Seals to even inventor Elon Musk pitched in to find solutions to save the trapped people inside the cave. Author Cochrane explains in his book on the chronological events leading up to the incident, and the arduous tasks undertaken by people to navigate the treacherous waters that were flooding the caves by the minute.
Cochrane keeps his book short and simple; unlike most other investigative journalistic nonfiction that are typically rich in detail and background exposition, 'Miracle in the Cave' is quite the opposite, reading more like a lengthy article rather than a book, and the author makes sure there is just sufficient detail to explain what happened without bogging down the reading experience.
Cochrane's book also showcases the cave rescue as a great case study to highlight the different factors of a large-scale emergency operation: the pouring of numerous experts with differing rescue advice, organization and hierarchy issues, morale boost, volunteerism, etc. It was an unprecedented event that required every kind of expertise available from all over the world, as well as unconditional help from the locals.
Perhaps the only letdown of the book is its overall organization of the rescue's narrative; since it is a huge expedition where many individuals in several groups approached the cave in different areas, it can get confusing as a reader to know the chronological order of the rescue progress. Personally I would have preferred the author to use the chapter to explain the progress in order, or use the number of days to render the progress easier to follow. The minor shortcoming however, is eventually overshadowed by the climactic 'D-Day' rescue mission, a nigh-suicidal mission where even the rescuers were thinking of the possibility of carrying out dead children instead of survivors, which makes for utterly gripping reading experience.
The Tham Luang cave rescue is the very definition of a perfect storm, both metaphorically and even literally in some sense. A blend of rare circumstances with a dash of Murphy's Law where everything that can go wrong will go wrong, it's the kind of event that captures the world's attention, and for a moment in time, unites the world towards a common goal. Cochrane covers the story in his book like a documentary on paper, and his book shows how humans are able to put differences aside if we want to achieve a greater good, in this case, saving a group of kids from their untimely deaths. A great read in overall.
The incident was a case of a simple adventure gone terribly wrong: a group of boys from a local soccer team and their coach decided on a whim to explore a popular cave that is notorious for its labyrinthine chambers. It was not the monsoon season yet so access was available, yet Mother Nature proved to be predictably unpredictable, and an unanticipated downpour made me stuck deep in the caves, eventually capturing everyone's attention to rescue them as soon as possible before they starve or suffocate to death.
It garnered an unusual amount of international attention, where people ranging from seasoned cave explorers to the Thai Navy Seals to even inventor Elon Musk pitched in to find solutions to save the trapped people inside the cave. Author Cochrane explains in his book on the chronological events leading up to the incident, and the arduous tasks undertaken by people to navigate the treacherous waters that were flooding the caves by the minute.
Cochrane keeps his book short and simple; unlike most other investigative journalistic nonfiction that are typically rich in detail and background exposition, 'Miracle in the Cave' is quite the opposite, reading more like a lengthy article rather than a book, and the author makes sure there is just sufficient detail to explain what happened without bogging down the reading experience.
Cochrane's book also showcases the cave rescue as a great case study to highlight the different factors of a large-scale emergency operation: the pouring of numerous experts with differing rescue advice, organization and hierarchy issues, morale boost, volunteerism, etc. It was an unprecedented event that required every kind of expertise available from all over the world, as well as unconditional help from the locals.
Perhaps the only letdown of the book is its overall organization of the rescue's narrative; since it is a huge expedition where many individuals in several groups approached the cave in different areas, it can get confusing as a reader to know the chronological order of the rescue progress. Personally I would have preferred the author to use the chapter to explain the progress in order, or use the number of days to render the progress easier to follow. The minor shortcoming however, is eventually overshadowed by the climactic 'D-Day' rescue mission, a nigh-suicidal mission where even the rescuers were thinking of the possibility of carrying out dead children instead of survivors, which makes for utterly gripping reading experience.
The Tham Luang cave rescue is the very definition of a perfect storm, both metaphorically and even literally in some sense. A blend of rare circumstances with a dash of Murphy's Law where everything that can go wrong will go wrong, it's the kind of event that captures the world's attention, and for a moment in time, unites the world towards a common goal. Cochrane covers the story in his book like a documentary on paper, and his book shows how humans are able to put differences aside if we want to achieve a greater good, in this case, saving a group of kids from their untimely deaths. A great read in overall.
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September 8, 2024"Coach Ek felt a responsibility to keep his young players clam. Instead of talking about being stuck, he focused on the hope they'd be out soon. ... Each night, they would chant a Thai Buddhist prayer together. It was one the boys all knew: 'Bowing to the Triple Gem,' which was perhaps the equivalent of the Lord's Prayer for Christians. The prayer honored the man who started Buddhism, as well as its doctrine (the Dhamma) and the Buddhist community (the Sangha). ... Adult, however, was Christian. Each night, he asked his own [God] to get them out of the cave." (50)
"'By the tenth night, we were losing patience, hope, physical energy, and courage. We could not do anything to help. The only thing that I could do was pray,' said Abdul, the only Christian of the group.
'I prayed, "Lord, I am only a boy, you are an almighty God. You are holy and you are powerful. Right now I can't do anything. May you protect us. Come help all thirteen of us."'" (134)
"At the time, the rescue organizes hinted that the boys were learning how to dive, and that's what the parents were told. Some media reported that each boy would be tethered to an air hose, swimming out with one rescue diver in front and one behind. It turned out those details were untrue. Those who'd battled for hours through the muddy obstacle course knew there was no way the boys or their coach could make it out on their maiden dives. The conditions in the cave would be challenging even for an experienced recreational diver. The only hope was to sedate the boys and Coach Ek so the expert cave divers could cary them out, wearing full-face masks." (173)
"The divers told the boys that the plan was to sedate t hem and let the British cave rescue experts carry them out. The sedating procedure was explained to the children in a letter that Dr. Harry brought with him.
The letter, from one of the Thai doctors, explained to the children what the process would entail. 'They were going to get a tablet which would make them feel funny. they would come down to the water, sit up on my lap. I was going to give them an injection in one leg, an injection in the other leg. They were going to go to sleep. They would wake up in a bed,' said Dr. Harry later. 'When the Thai Navy SEAL read this out to the kids, I was watching their faces, and, honestly, they were just like, "Yep, sounds like a plan."'" (210)
"This time, John Volanthen would have the momentous task of guiding the boy through the most dangerous sections of the cave. For days, John had been mentally getting ready for a truly horrible scenario.
'I was prepared to take a live child underwater and bring out a corpse,' he said.
And yet John also had a conflicting thought that was even stronger.
'I was 110 percent determined that my child was going to survive.'" (231)
"'By the tenth night, we were losing patience, hope, physical energy, and courage. We could not do anything to help. The only thing that I could do was pray,' said Abdul, the only Christian of the group.
'I prayed, "Lord, I am only a boy, you are an almighty God. You are holy and you are powerful. Right now I can't do anything. May you protect us. Come help all thirteen of us."'" (134)
"At the time, the rescue organizes hinted that the boys were learning how to dive, and that's what the parents were told. Some media reported that each boy would be tethered to an air hose, swimming out with one rescue diver in front and one behind. It turned out those details were untrue. Those who'd battled for hours through the muddy obstacle course knew there was no way the boys or their coach could make it out on their maiden dives. The conditions in the cave would be challenging even for an experienced recreational diver. The only hope was to sedate the boys and Coach Ek so the expert cave divers could cary them out, wearing full-face masks." (173)
"The divers told the boys that the plan was to sedate t hem and let the British cave rescue experts carry them out. The sedating procedure was explained to the children in a letter that Dr. Harry brought with him.
The letter, from one of the Thai doctors, explained to the children what the process would entail. 'They were going to get a tablet which would make them feel funny. they would come down to the water, sit up on my lap. I was going to give them an injection in one leg, an injection in the other leg. They were going to go to sleep. They would wake up in a bed,' said Dr. Harry later. 'When the Thai Navy SEAL read this out to the kids, I was watching their faces, and, honestly, they were just like, "Yep, sounds like a plan."'" (210)
"This time, John Volanthen would have the momentous task of guiding the boy through the most dangerous sections of the cave. For days, John had been mentally getting ready for a truly horrible scenario.
'I was prepared to take a live child underwater and bring out a corpse,' he said.
And yet John also had a conflicting thought that was even stronger.
'I was 110 percent determined that my child was going to survive.'" (231)
February 6, 2019
In late June, in Thailand, a young soccer coach and his team known as the Wild Boars planned a short excursion inside a cave after practice. As they ventured into the cave, they had to wade into some water to get further inside. After exploring for a while, they turned back to come out only to discover the water they'd waded in earlier had risen so high that it now blocked the entire passageway. They were trapped inside the cave. They sought refuge in a higher area and tried to contact their families only to discover they couldn't access any cell service. They would have to wait to be rescued.
Since they'd purchased and eaten snacks before going to the cave, they had no food. The only supplies they had were their flashlights. The boys' families realized they were unusually late, and someone noticed their bikes parked outside the cave. It was then that it was discovered that the coach and 12 young players were trapped inside.
The Thai Navy SEALs arrived, and many expert cave divers from around the world all came to help provide assistance or supplies to help rescue the team. News teams converged to the site of the cave to report on this dire predicament. Eventually divers got into where the team was located and provided them with some nourishment, but it would still be weeks before a coordinated effort of pumping water out, diverting incoming water, drilling into the side of the cave, and using experienced rescue cave divers could finally rescue them. One SEAL suffered a fatal injury, but the rest of the rescuers and the team were all recovered with minor or no injuries.
The author related that this was one of the only times in which everyone in the world seemed to be on the same side--that of wanting to see a successful rescue. This book contains some details of the rescue that were misrepresented in the media while the rescue mission was going on, and it briefly alludes to some of the less-than-ethical dealings that happened afterwards by an American network and a Thai leader resulting in an exclusive interview with the team.
Riveting and informative coverage of an event that won't be soon forgotten by someone who was there throughout the entire ordeal.
Since they'd purchased and eaten snacks before going to the cave, they had no food. The only supplies they had were their flashlights. The boys' families realized they were unusually late, and someone noticed their bikes parked outside the cave. It was then that it was discovered that the coach and 12 young players were trapped inside.
The Thai Navy SEALs arrived, and many expert cave divers from around the world all came to help provide assistance or supplies to help rescue the team. News teams converged to the site of the cave to report on this dire predicament. Eventually divers got into where the team was located and provided them with some nourishment, but it would still be weeks before a coordinated effort of pumping water out, diverting incoming water, drilling into the side of the cave, and using experienced rescue cave divers could finally rescue them. One SEAL suffered a fatal injury, but the rest of the rescuers and the team were all recovered with minor or no injuries.
The author related that this was one of the only times in which everyone in the world seemed to be on the same side--that of wanting to see a successful rescue. This book contains some details of the rescue that were misrepresented in the media while the rescue mission was going on, and it briefly alludes to some of the less-than-ethical dealings that happened afterwards by an American network and a Thai leader resulting in an exclusive interview with the team.
Riveting and informative coverage of an event that won't be soon forgotten by someone who was there throughout the entire ordeal.
February 2, 2019
Very good read. Better than Matt Gutman's book that focused more on the military/diver/government interactions and got a number of basic facts wrong so I question the accuracy of Mr. Gutman's book (misspelled the name of a British diver throughtout the book, the transcript between the divers and boys when they were found in the cave isn't correct, Coach Ek was not riding on the back of the moped on the trip to the cave...he is clearly seen riding a bike in the video... Dom is team captain, Night is not identified in a picture).
Mr. Cochran's book focuses more on the unsung heroes of the rescue who provided resources and support, and he spoke directly with one of the kids and his father to reveal a few details of life in the cave (he only disclosed this interaction with the father's permission). He may have gotten several of the kids mixed up (I thought it was Titan, the youngest, who struggled in the cave, not Note??; diver/child pairing might be off a bit). But overall, I enjoyed the book and revisiting the rescue and people involved after following this incredible event at the time and months afterwards.
Mr. Cochran's book focuses more on the unsung heroes of the rescue who provided resources and support, and he spoke directly with one of the kids and his father to reveal a few details of life in the cave (he only disclosed this interaction with the father's permission). He may have gotten several of the kids mixed up (I thought it was Titan, the youngest, who struggled in the cave, not Note??; diver/child pairing might be off a bit). But overall, I enjoyed the book and revisiting the rescue and people involved after following this incredible event at the time and months afterwards.
August 12, 2023
This book tells us about the biggest rescue in the 2010s, to be exact in 2018. Yes, it's the story about the rescue of 12 boys and their coach from Tham Luang cave in Thailand due to the flood.
This book tells us from the beginning of how the boys were trapped in the cave, the discovery of the boys, and the plan to save them all. It continues until several weeks after the rescue when the boys receive highlights from every part of the world.
Every conflict and plan that was created to save them were highlighted perfectly. As the title said, the rescue itself is a miracle due to the high risk of the rescue itself.
The rescuers team consist of people from many parts of the world adding a great value to this story.
The team said themself that this rescue is very miraculous because they actually prepared to bring some dead bodies, but fortunately all of them are alive.
Detailed and chronological writing by Liam make this book very enjoyable to read due to its tidiness.
This book tells us from the beginning of how the boys were trapped in the cave, the discovery of the boys, and the plan to save them all. It continues until several weeks after the rescue when the boys receive highlights from every part of the world.
Every conflict and plan that was created to save them were highlighted perfectly. As the title said, the rescue itself is a miracle due to the high risk of the rescue itself.
The rescuers team consist of people from many parts of the world adding a great value to this story.
The team said themself that this rescue is very miraculous because they actually prepared to bring some dead bodies, but fortunately all of them are alive.
Detailed and chronological writing by Liam make this book very enjoyable to read due to its tidiness.
April 1, 2019
If i could give this more than 5 stars i would. I was obsessed with this story when it happened and i am SO GLAD for a tell all about the rescue. Even though i read it and KNOW they pulled it off, it still seems impossible. The amount of grit and super human strength and dedication is beyond my comprehension. An inspiring and magnificent international rescue told with clarity and in depth explanations. This should ABSOLUTELY be on EVERY ONE'S reading list.
July 4, 2022
An inspirational and uplifting account of the rescue of the Thai soccer team.
The boys and their coach were likely going to die in the cave. At least some, but probably all of them.
Liam Cochrane is a journalist who watched, and ultimately wrote this book.
We know how it all turned out, but that didn't stop the book being a "real page turner"!
The boys and their coach were likely going to die in the cave. At least some, but probably all of them.
Liam Cochrane is a journalist who watched, and ultimately wrote this book.
We know how it all turned out, but that didn't stop the book being a "real page turner"!
January 6, 2024
This was an inspiring and heart-pounding true story of the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped inside a cave in Thailand. It’s amazing to read of rescuers from all over the world coming together to help get the boys out. The planning and science behind the rescue is fascinating to read about and unbelievable to realize these boys lived thru it all.
February 1, 2019
This was a captivating read; the insights into the Thai culture were fascinating. Thank you, Liam!
(The events are told very much from the perspective of the rescuers. I will have to find another book in order hear the story of what the 13 young guys went through.)
(The events are told very much from the perspective of the rescuers. I will have to find another book in order hear the story of what the 13 young guys went through.)
March 19, 2020
An unprecedented rescue! It takes a village to make a difference and this story is a poignant example of that. Easy to read account from a news correspondent that understands and respects the culture of the country.
June 20, 2025
Great story about a great rescue!
Loved the details and back stories of what I remember of the incident that captivated the world.
Amazing story of cooperation from around the world.
Highly recommend this read.
Loved the details and back stories of what I remember of the incident that captivated the world.
Amazing story of cooperation from around the world.
Highly recommend this read.
March 19, 2019
I'd heard only a few tidbits about this incident, so I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating book!
December 31, 2019
You remember the incident and know the outcome but this book really dives into the details and illuminates the impressive worldwide effort that went in to saving these boys. Great read.
August 29, 2020
Very interesting to hear some of the aspects of the story that weren’t reported in the news at the time.
September 29, 2020
4.5 stars. So good!
November 6, 2021
Incredible rescue story! God was the one watching over those boys and their coach!
July 14, 2022
A well written interpretation from the individuals who lived the experience. I really appreciated every aspect of the different types of ideas that could be considered to get the team out.
September 5, 2022
Read for my Book Club a couple months ago!! It was excellent!!!
March 4, 2023
Amazing account of the event.
May 11, 2023
Amazing story of perseverance (mental and physical) by the boys and their coach, as well as unity and synergy by volunteers around the world.
August 2, 2023
It took a world wide team. To save them.
October 23, 2023
Amazing true story of perseverance (mental and physical) by a boys soccer team as well as unity and synergy by volunteers from around the world.
July 9, 2019
When people come together and unite in one job, miracles do happen. Stay united and positive.
May 6, 2021
Recommended, if this topic is of interest to you. This book humanizes the story and tells more of what the boys and their families went through.
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February 12, 2019Amazing read. So much detail you felt like you were there.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews