British diver from Thai cave rescue honours team captain who died in UK

A British diver who participated in the 2018 Thai cave rescue made a statement honouring the captain of the Wild Boars football team, who recently passed away in the UK.

The diver, Rick Stanton, expressed his sorrow at the death of Duangphet Phromthep, the 17 year old student he helped to save. Stanton said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of Dom’s passing, which was announced by his school on Wednesday.

Dom had been a student at Brooke House College, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Dom had enrolled in the football academy at Brooke House last year.

In a statement to inews, Stanton paid tribute to the teenager’s bravery during the rescue. Stanton said he remembered swimming towards Dom’s unconscious body to bring him to safety on the second day of the rescue. He also said Dom “took the lead,” and wrote the first messages to the outside world about the situation at the cave. Stanton said…

“I carefully held his precious life in my grasp, bearing the full weight of responsibility towards his survival through the most extreme of circumstances.”

Stanton said that all members of the British Cave Rescue Council team who were involved in the event have been informed about Dom’s tragic death.

Several others are also mourning Dom’s death. Ian Smith, the principal of Dom’s college, said the school was “devastated” to learn of Dom’s death.

The first person to break the news of Dom’s death was a Buddhist monk and Dom’s former teacher, Supatpong Methigo. The monk said he was informed by Dom’s grandmother, who gives him alms every morning, that Dom had died in an accident. The monk made several statements honouring Dom, including…

“I hope the Dharma you were taught accompanies you everywhere and I hope you are my student again in a future life.”

Dom’s exact cause of death is not yet known. Leicestershire Police said in a statement…

“The boy’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”