Thai cave boy’s ashes arrive home from UK for final farewell

The cremated ashes of one of the 12 boys rescued from a flooded cave in 2018 have arrived in Chiang Rai, Thailand, where the final Buddhist rites for his funeral will be held over the next few days following his death in the UK.

Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep, 17, was found unconscious in his room on February 12 at the Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicestershire and was taken to hospital, where he died two days later.

Thailand Cave Boy
Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep was one of the boys rescued from the flooded cave in northern Thailand in 2018 (AP)

His family watched a live video stream of the funeral in the UK from Chiang Rai, a northern province of Thailand.

Dom’s ashes were brought from the UK and handed over to his family at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok on Saturday morning before they boarded a flight to Chiang Rai.

Thailand Cave Boy mourners
Former soccer coach Ekkapol Chanthawong, right, holds a portrait of Dom as the teenager’s grandmother Kamaery Promthep holds his ashes (AP)

His former coach Ekapol Chanthawong, who was also trapped in the cave with him, held a large portrait of his former pupil.

Thailand Cave Boy
The final rites over the teenager will be held shortly (AP)

The Thai funeral for Duangphet will take place at Wat Phra That Doi Wao, less than six miles from the Tham Luang Cave where Dom, along with his teammates and coach, were trapped for more than two weeks in 2018 before they were safely guided out by a team of expert divers.

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