AFP, BANGKOKA Thai Navy SEAL who aided with the rescue of a youth soccer team trapped in a flooded cave last year has died from an infection that he contracted during the dramatic recovery mission. Thai Navy Petty Officer Beirut Pakbara fell ill with a blood infection while working to retrieve the 12 young boys and their coach, the Thai Navy said in a statement on Friday. “His condition worsened and he died from the blood infection,” the navy said, expressing “profound sadness” to his family. Another rescuer, former Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Gunan, also died during the rescue mission when he ran out of oxygen while attempting to establish an airline to the children and their coach. The rescue mission — which included foreign expert divers and the Thai Navy — drew extraordinary global interest to the mountainous district of Mae Sai.
