The Netflix series Thai Cave Rescue retells the true story of how a junior association football team and their coach got trapped in a cave. When the news went worldwide, there was a huge rescue attempt to save their lives. Below is the Season 1 recap of Thai Cave Rescue.
Thai Cave Rescue Season 1 Recap
Episode 1-2
Before the Netflix series gets into the details of the cave disaster, we see all of the major players. Among them are Eak and, of course, the 12 young footballers, aka the Wild Boars. With the gang oblivious to the upcoming storm, they innocently head into the cave. But when the storm comes, they are trapped inside with no way to alert anyone to their location. However, some of the parents realize what has occurred, and a rescue mission gets underway.
As the water levels rise in the cave, and still no confirmation that Eak and the Wild Boars are even alive, there is a great concern for their safety. Inside the cave, Eak tries to swim underneath to try and find a way out. However, he nearly drowns in the process. With the public hoping for a happy solution, Governor Narongsak learns that he must figure out a way to save the trapped boys. One of the trapped boy’s (Mark) mother, Namhom, learns of the situation at the cave and realizes that Mark will be among those trapped. However, the cave’s guards don’t listen to her and refuse her entry. It is only when she screams for the Governor that she is allowed nearby.
With the rain finally coming to a halt, the rescue team is able to reach the boys. Through a GoPro, the parents learn that Eak and the Wild Boars are alive.
Episode 3-4
News of the football team trapped in the cave becomes global. As a result, rescue teams from all over the world offer their guidance. But as water is starting to flood the cave, the Governor is unable to send any more help. At least, for now. It seems that the rescue team is finding dead end after dead end. But then they learn that as they cannot drill the boys out, they may be able to rescue them another way. Instead, they can only bring the boys out in the same way that they entered.
Inside the cave, Eak gives up most of his food supply to keep up the young footballer’s spirits high. Above and on land, the experts estimate that a rescue plan may take up to 3-4 weeks. But sadly, that’s not good enough. As the oxygen starts to run out, so does the chance that the trapped boys will survive.
A former Navy Seal, Saman Kunan, gets a call. Shortly afterward, he arrives at the cave site and tries to help rescue them. But something goes tragically wrong, and Saman dies whilst in the water.
Episode 5-6
Saman’s death brings great distress to the rescue team and diminishes any hope that the Wild Boars will be rescued. And in the cave, oxygen levels continue to drop, meaning they have reached the “danger zone”. At the same time, tensions fly in the cave, and Eak feels enormous guilt over leading the boys into the cave. There’s more worrying news ahead; a new storm will be heading towards the cave in the next two days. As a result, it’s a case of now or never in regards to the rescue mission.
In the season finale, the Thai cave rescue mission is very much underway. But, of course, there are great levels of threat. And some are wondering whether everyone will survive. But the mission moves fast, and soon, five of the Wild Boars have made it out of the cave. As night draws, and the divers have been working for 12 hours, it’s decided that workers must rest to ensure there are no tragic accidents.
Meanwhile, there’s a slight problem for Mark. They cannot find a mask that is small enough to fit around his face. Rainfall starts to come, and that means time is running out. Despite Eak’s initial wish to be rescued last, he has to come out earlier so that the divers have enough strength to carry his weight. It goes well, and then it’s only Mark that needs to be rescued from the cave. As the rescue team starts to remove Mark from the cave, there’s a landslide. Although it looks like there might be disaster ahead, Mark survives! And because of that, Eak and the 12 Wild Boars have all made it out of the cave alive.
And that completes the full recap of Thai Cave Rescue season 1. What are your thoughts on the story? Comment below.
