Funeral in Chaing Rai 'drew Duangphet’s soul home' from UK
The funeral for one of the 12 boys rescued from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai in 2018 was held at Wat Phra That Doi Wao in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district on Thursday night.
Duangphet "Dom" Promthep, 18, one of the Wild Boar football team members who – along with their coach – was trapped in Tham Luang Cave in 2018, died in England on Tuesday, after collapsing in his dormitory room on Sunday.
He won a scholarship to study at Brooke House College, a football academy about 150 kilometres north of London, in August last year, and subsequently flew to England in September.
Duangphet's parents and relatives, as well as other members of the Wild Boar football team, attended the funeral.
Monks led by abbot Phra Kru Prayut Chetiyanukarn conducted the funeral rites using Duangphet's photo, clothes and shoes instead of his body, which remains in England.
The funeral was held to make merit for Duangphet and lead his soul back to his hometown, the temple’s abbot said.
"I believe that Duangphet's soul has returned to his hometown to meet his parents and friends who gathered to make merit for him," he said.
He also expressed hope that Duangphet becomes his parents' son again in a future life, adding that those who attended the funeral had done their best to bring his soul home.
The Royal Thai Embassy in London said Duangphet was sent to a hospital's intensive care unit after losing consciousness in his dormitory room on Sunday.
"On Tuesday morning, Duangphet remained in critical condition before he died at 1.43pm [local time]," the embassy said, adding that the hospital had informed Duangphet's relatives.
The embassy is cooperating with them, Zico Foundation, and Brooke House College to return his body to Thailand.
Related stories:
UK football academy mourns loss of Thai boy who survived flooded cave
Kiatisuk says ex-Wild Boar Duangphet, who died in England, dreamt of playing for Thailand
