12-9-2024 (BANGKOK) In a twist of fate that seems almost too extraordinary to be true, Eakapol Jantawong, the coach who famously guided the “Wild Boars” football team through their harrowing cave ordeal in 2018, has found himself once again at the mercy of nature’s fury. This time, however, the drama is unfolding not in the depths of a subterranean labyrinth, but atop his own home in the northern Thai district of Mae Sai.
As Typhoon Yagi unleashed its wrath across Southeast Asia, bringing torrential rains and triggering deadly flash floods and landslides, Jantawong and his family found themselves caught in a rapidly escalating crisis. Speaking to AFP via telephone on 11 September, the coach recounted how the floodwaters rose with alarming speed in the early hours of 10 September, leaving them with no time to evacuate.
“It was like déjà vu, but in reverse,” Jantawong explained, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. “Instead of being trapped underground, we were forced upwards, onto our roof.”
The coach, along with his girlfriend and her aunt, spent a nerve-wracking night perched atop their house, surrounded by the swirling currents of the flood. Drawing on the resilience and calm that saw him through the cave incident, Jantawong approached this new challenge with a remarkably level head.
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“I was scared, naturally,” he admitted. “But I told myself I have to remain calm. Wait and assess the situation. It’s what got us through Tham Luang, and it’s what will get us through this.”
As of 11 September, the waters had receded enough to allow the family to descend to the ground floor of their home. However, the strong currents outside still rendered escape impossible, leaving them effectively marooned in their own dwelling.
Reflecting on the parallels between his current predicament and the cave incident that thrust him into the global spotlight, Jantawong sees more similarities than differences. “The core principle remains the same,” he mused. “First, we must focus and start solving the problem at hand. Panic is the enemy of survival.”
The coach’s calm demeanour in the face of adversity is a testament to the lessons learned during those tense 18 days in the Tham Luang cave complex. The experience, which saw Jantawong and his young charges rescued in a daring international operation that captivated the world, has clearly left an indelible mark on his approach to crisis management.
“I don’t feel more pressure with this stranding,” he stated matter-of-factly. “If anything, I see more of a way out. The cave taught us that hope and perseverance can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.”
