The Boys in the Cave

Deep Inside the Impossible Rescue in Thailand

By: Matt Gutman

Narrated by: Matt Gutman

From award-winning ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman, and written using exclusive interviews and information comes the definitive account of the dramatic story that gripped the world: the miracle rescue of twelve boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded cave miles underground for nearly three weeks—a pulse-pounding account by a reporter who was there every step of their journey out.

After a practice in June 2018, a Thai soccer coach took a dozen of his young players to explore a famous but flood-prone cave. It was one of the boys’ birthday, but neither he nor the dozen resurfaced. Worried parents and rescuers flocked to the mouth of a cave that seemed to have swallowed the boys without a trace. Ranging in age from eleven to sixteen, the boys were all members of the Wild Boars soccer team. When water unexpectedly inundated the cave, blocking their escape, they retreated deeper inside, taking shelter in a side cavern. While the world feared them dead, the thirteen young souls survived by licking the condensation off the cave’s walls, meditating, and huddling together for warmth.

In this thrilling account, ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman recounts this amazing story in depth and from every angle, exploring their time in the cave, the failed plans and human mistakes that nearly doomed them, and the daring mission that ultimately saved them. Gutman introduces the elite team of volunteer divers who risked death to execute a plan so risky that its American planners admitted, “for us, success would have meant getting just one boy out alive.” He takes you inside the meetings where life and death decisions were grimly made and describes how these heroes pulled off an improbable rescue under immense pressure, with the boys’ desperate parents and the entire world watching. One of the largest rescues in history was in doubt until the very last moment.

Matt Gutman covered the story intensively, went deep inside the caves himself, and interviewed dozens of rescuers, experts and eye-witnessed around the world. The result is this pulse-pounding telling that vividly recreates this extraordinary event in all its intensity—and documents the ingenuity and sacrifice it took to succeed.

Great Details

an incredibly well written and narrated story of a compelling and miraculous cave rescue. the author does a wonderful job of making you feel like you're in the cave with The Rescuers and the boys. it was almost as visual as the Netflix and Amazon specials in its Vivid details of the rescue. I would highly recommend this book to people who want to learn more about this experience or even to those who enjoy reading about miracles.

Truly incredible story.

It is reassuring to know that there are still so many people in this world willing to do whatever it takes to help complete strangers. Don't lose sight of all the good in the midst of all the bad making today's headlines.

Compelling!

This story of rescue mission that captured the attention of the world is written so well and is excellently narrated! What a listen!

Ultimate Page Turner

Once I began listening to this unique account of the boys trapped in a cave in Thailand I could not stop. The whole world stopped to help rescue the soccer team.
The outcome seemed to be nothing short of a miracle. I will remember this story for the rest of my life.

Fantastic

I loved this book, very informative and well read.was unable to stop listening.
Incredible bravery !!