Family members, monks and mates watched from a ship Monday because the ashes of one of many 12 boys rescued from a flooded collapse northern Thailand in 2018 had been launched into the Mekong River. Seventeen-year-old Duangphet Phromthep died final month whereas attending a sports activities academy in England.
Duangphet’s ashes floated away in a makeshift vessel, together with soccer balls and a few of his prized possessions, in an space of the river in Chiang Rai, the nation’s northernmost province, the place the borders of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet generally known as the Golden Triangle.
His physique was cremated in a Buddhist ceremony in England in accordance along with his household’s needs.
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Phra Khru Prayut Chetiyanukarn, abbot of the province’s Wat Phra That Doi Wao temple who led the Buddhist funeral procession, stated the situation is the place folks typically scatter the ashes of their members of the family. He stated the Golden Triangle “is believed to comprise a Naga that helps defend and takes care (of the lifeless) for us.”
Nagas are serpent-like mystical creatures which might be revered based on Thai Buddhist beliefs. The Mekong River is one in every of Asia’s longest, spanning virtually 3,100 miles, and runs by way of a number of international locations together with China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
Family members, accompanied by monks and fellow mourners, launch the ashes of Duangphet Phromthep in a makeshift boat together with soccer balls and a few of his prized possessions into the Mekong River in Thailand on March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Duangphet, generally known as Dom, was discovered unconscious in his room on Feb. 12 at Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicestershire in central England. He died in a hospital two days later.
The reason behind dying has not been launched to the general public by coroners, however police stated it was not believed to be suspicious.
Buddhist prayer classes for Duangphet happened over the weekend at Wat Phra That Doi Wao in his hometown of Chiang Rai after his ashes arrived from Britain on Sunday.
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The temple is lower than 6 miles from Tham Luang cave, the place Duangphet and 11 of his “Wild Boar” soccer teammates and their coach had been trapped for greater than two weeks earlier than being safely guided out by skilled cave divers in a miraculous effort that captured international curiosity.
Adul Sam-on, a former teammate who was trapped with him in 2018, arrived in Chiang Rai on Monday from New York, the place he’s finding out, to say his remaining goodbyes to Duangphet, one in every of his closest mates.
“Even although right now was the final day of the ceremony, I’m glad I made it,” Adul stated. “We had been so shut. We had been identical to brothers.”
Duangphet was described by his mates and coaches as a gifted and decided soccer participant.
“He was so good at soccer each technically and mentally,” stated Anucha Ratchacote, 17, a former teammate of Duangphet at Vachiralai Bee School in Chiang Mai. “He needed to play for the nationwide staff and I believe he was adequate.”