A former Navy seal taking part in the rescue of 12 young footballers and their coach trapped in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai passed out during a dive and died early on Friday morning.
Naval Special Warfare Command chief Apakorn Yukongkaew said Sgt Maj Saman Kunan, 37, who worked for the Airports Authority of Thailand, lost consciousness as he was returning used oxygen tanks to Chamber 3 about 1am.
His diving buddy tried to help, but in vain.
Rr Adm Apakorn stressed that the former Seal's tragic death will not undermine the effort to rescue the boys.
He said His Majesty the King had given instructions that Sgt Maj Saman be given dignified funeral rites.
