A Thai Navy SEAL who aided with the rescue of a youth football team trapped in a flooded cave last year has died from an infection he contracted during the dramatic recovery mission.
Petty Officer Beirut Pakbara fell ill with a blood infection while working to retrieve the 12 young boys and their coach, the Thai Navy said in a statement posted late Friday on their
Facebook page.
After the 18-day ordeal came to an end last June -- with the entire team emerging safely from Tham Luang cave in northern
Thailand -- he was under close supervision by doctors during his yearlong illness.