Duangphet Phromthep: Inquest opens into death at Leicestershire school of Thai cave rescue teenager
An inquest into the death of a teenage footballer, who was one of the 12 boys rescued from a cave in Thailand in 2018, has been opened and adjourned.
Duangphet Phromthep, known as Dom, died last week at Kettering General Hospital, his school Brooke House College in Market Harborough confirmed.
Opening an inquest into the 17-year-old’s death at Leicester Coroner’s Court, Professor Catherine Mason, senior coroner for Leicester City and South Leicestershire, said that a provisional cause of death had been identified.
However, she did not disclose the cause during the short hearing.
She said: “A cause of death has been provided. The cause of death is provisional until the formal hearing.
“Investigations and inquiries are continuing and I’m not in a position to proceed."
A review hearing will take place on July 6, Prof Mason added.
Leicestershire Police said last week the death was not believed to be suspicious.
Dom had previously gained worldwide fame as the captain of The Wild Boars, or Moo Pa in Thai, football team.
In 2018, Dom and his team became trapped in the caves after a sudden storm caused flooding which blocked the exit.
The boys, then aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach spent nine days in darkness without food before they were found by an international search and rescue effort involving around 10,000 people.
Dom turned 13 while trapped in the cave and images of the boys were beamed across the world.
They were sedated before being taken out of the cave one at a time by a team of divers.
They left hospital a few weeks later after some contracted lung infections while they were trapped.
In a statement released on February 15, Ian Smith, principal at Brooke House College, said: “This event has left our college community deeply saddened and shaken.
“We unite in grief with all of Dom’s family, friends, former teammates and those involved in all parts of his life, as well as everyone affected in any way by this loss in Thailand and throughout the college’s global family.
“The college is liaising with statutory authorities and the Royal Thai Embassy in London, and dedicating all resources to assist our student body, as they as young people process Dom’s passing.
“Beyond that, we are unable to comment further at this time and would ask for privacy and compassion as we continue to support the students in our care, drawing on the kindness and assistance of the Market Harborough community.”