One survivour,dressed in just shorts and a headtorch,managed a faint smile as he was supported away through the rocky terrain.

The men were laid down on stretchers and given oxygen masks and drips as a medic appeared to check them.

Meanwhile,water is still being pumped out of the cavern in a bid to try find the final two men who are missing underground.

The rescue operation in the remote area involves specialist divers from neighbouring Thailand,Indonesia,France and Australia.

Rescue Volunteer for People said on Facebook today: ‘The water intake in the cave is decreasing and our plans are not finished yet [sic] will continue to search for two missing people from various locations.’

The latest rescue has sparked memories of the 2018 incident when young Thai footballers became stuck for 18 days in a cave.

The Laos cave ordeal came after five divers and one rescuer died in an underwater cave in the Maldives.

The five Italian divers had entered a 160ft deep ‘shark’ cave when the accident happened.

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