Personnel from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have played an important supporting role in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their football coach in Thailand, and are continuing to do so.
In a statement following the discovery of the party deep in a Chiang Rai cave complex, the AFP said it was delighted and relieved the group had been found alive after being trapped for nine days.
“The priorities for the Thai-led rescue operation are getting food and first aid to the group and preparing to evacuate them safely,” it said.
“An AFP Specialist Response Group (SRG) team of six officers with dive capabilities deployed to Chiang Rai has capabilities of working in zero visibility areas, land search and rescue, and diving in flooded caves.”
It said the AFP team was working closely with the Royal Thai Navy to plan and support the movement of equipment further into the cave system to enable the Thai Navy SEALS to rescue the group safely.
It said that among other Australians helping out in Chang Rai were staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop said Australia had played a small but important role in supporting the Government of Thailand’s search efforts.
“We acknowledge the Government of Thailand’s strong leadership throughout this search and rescue operation,” Ms Bishop said.
