It was meant to be a casual jaunt to relax after soccer practice with their coach Ekapol ‘Ake’ Chanthawong by their side.

But heavy rains came and the waters rose, forcing them to higher ground. The boys — age 11-16 — couldn’t swim and used their hands to feel the walls and find a safe space to crawl up to.

They found themselves trapped underground, until an international team of cave divers and Thai navy SEALs rescued them in a high-risk, three-day mission.

Many of their distraught parents slept outside the cave, hoping to hear good news.

But they weren’t told anything about how which boy was removed first or last, until all 12 boys and their coach were out and safe.

Their miracle story of survival has captivated people around the world.

Australia’s two hero divers Dr Richard Harris and his friend, Craig Challen, have been praised for their role in getting them out.

Details of the delicate, complicated rescue mission that involved 13 countries are still emerging, as experts and divers involved head home, and the boys recover in hospital.

Overnight, there was one moment that got them out of bed — the sad news that former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan died on July 6 while installing oxygen tanks along the twisting passageways of the cave. They were seen bowing their heads around a table, after they wrote messages on a drawing of him.

As video footage revealed just how dangerous the conditions were inside the tunnel, we also saw photos that showed first-hand of how divers successfully removed them from the cave.

These are some of the best pictures from the rescue mission.

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