'You are my very heart': Wife of diver who died in Thai cave mourns a hero

The wife of a Thai navy diver who died working to rescue a youth soccer team trapped for days in a flooded cave says she misses him dearly, but has urged the boys not to blame themselves for his death.

The rescued boys smiled and waved from their hospital bedsin the first video clip released Wednesday after an ordealthat has gripped the world.

Samarn Kunan, 38, a former member of the elite navy SEALsunit, was the only casualty in a multinational operation to savethe 12 boys and their 25-year-old coach after monsoon rains trapped them in thecave they were exploring in northern Thailand.

"I love you so much," his widow, Valeepoan Kunan, wrote inthe caption to a black-and-white photograph of her husband sheposted on her Instagram account.

"I miss you," she added. "I love you like you are my veryheartfrom now on when I wake up who will I kiss?"

The world should remember Samarn, the head of the rescuemission told a news conference at the end of the 17-dayoperation, which, at the end, involved three consecutive days of navigating through tight passageways in the cave complex.

"Samarn Kunan is the real hero," Narongsak Osottanakornsaid. "On the day that he passed, the entire team was sad, butwe used this sorrow. We saw that he gave his life for thiscause."

A day earlier,Valeepoan posted a picture of her handclasping that of her husband.

People from around the world have offered condolences andcommented on Valeepoan's social media accounts.

"Our hearts go out to you and your family at this difficulttime," read one comment. "Your husband is so brave. The worldwill not forget his kindness and all he did to save those boys."

A Thai artist has promised to create a statue of Samarn tobe erected in Chiang Rai province, where the Tham Luang cave is situated.

Samarn, an emergency rescue worker at Bangkok's SuvarnabhumiAirport after he left the SEALs in 2006, joined the cave rescueoperation on July 1.

Lost consciousness deep inside cave

British divers found the 13 members of the soccer team huddled on a muddyledge in a partly flooded chamber inside the cave. Samarn diedon July 6 after losing consciousness during a mission to placeoxygen tanks deep inside the cave, just two days before thefirst group of four boys was brought out.

During the rescue, some Thais said on social media that thesoccer team had been reckless in entering the cave during therainy season. But Valeepoan absolved them of responsibility.

"I want to tell the boys, please don't blame yourselves,"Valeepoan told reporters.

'Be a force for good'

The head of the diving team, meanwhile, urged the boys onThursday to "be a force for good."

"Make the most of your lives. Be good people, be a force forgood for your country," Rear AdmiralApakornYuukongkaew,commander of Thailand's navy SEALS unit, said in a message tothembefore boarding a flight from ChiangRai.

"Hooyah," Apakorn shouted before flying out, using amorale-building navy term.

Thai officials unveil 1st images of rescued boys in hospital

6 years ago

Duration 1:12

Boys shown in quarantine, but all in good spirits as families look on

On Wednesday, the first footage of the boys convalescingin hospital in the northern city of Chiang Rai emerged, with some, wearing face masks and hospital gowns,giving peace signs for the camera.

Health officials said the boys,aged 11 to 16,would spend at least a weekin hospital and some 30 days recovering at home following their ordeal.

Thirteen foreign divers and five Thai navy SEALs guided the playersand their coach out of the complex. The boys were held close to divers and remained motionlessfor parts of the journey where they had to dive. They were thencarried on stretchers through dry parts to the cave's entrance.