Pongsiri Mitsatit belongs to the Pingnakorn Rescue Chiang Mai volunteer group who were among those who helped rescue the young Thai football team. Handout

A mixed martial arts fighter was among the volunteers who helped rescue the Wild Boars football team who was trapped for more than two weeks inside the Chiang Rai cave complex in Thailand.

Pongsiri Mitsatit, who fights in ONE Championship, is a member of the Pingnakorn Rescue Chiang Mai volunteer group.

When the 12 young footballers and their coach went missing for several days in June and were discovered to have been trapped inside a cave complex, the 22-year-old Thai fighter jumped at the opportunity to help in the rescue efforts in any way that he could.

“We drove to Chiang Rai in the early morning, worried about the children. But I knew our team was very capable, and I knew we would do everything we could to find them,” Mitsatit said.

READ: All 12 boys, football coach rescued from Thai cave: navy SEALs unit

“Many people from all over the world came to help, it was a joint effort and a great sight to see everyone coming together for a common goal.”

The children, aged 11-16 years old, were exploring the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system on June 23, when torrential rain and flash floods quickly filled up the entrance and trapped them inside. 

Their ordeal gripped the world, with the lives of the boys and their coach hanging the balance as the threat of heavy rain injected urgency to an already perilous extraction bid.

A major rescue operation was launched with efforts to drain the cave just enough so that Thailand’s Navy SEAL divers could go in and extract the victims.

READ: How the Thai cave rescue of the 'Wild Boars' unfolded

Among those who extended their help were Mitsatit’s unit.

“I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help find these kids alive,” said Mitsatit, who holds a 9-0 professional record as a strawweight.

He had much to lose in risking his life but he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“When we are given the ability to help others who are in dire need, we must do everything we can. It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor, we do what we can,” Mitsatit said.

Rescue operations concluded on Tuesday as teams worked round the clock to rescue the victims at the soonest possible time. 

All 12 boys and their coach are well and in good spirits after being airlifted to the nearest hospital as soon as they got out of the cave. 

Mitsatit is scheduled to fight Team Lakay's Joshua Pacio on July 27 in ONE: Reign of Kings at Mall of Asia Arena.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.
 

ai vision