MOSCOW, July 18./TASS/. Russian-made helicopters were used in the operation to rescue 12 boys and their coach from a cave in Thailand, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in reply to a query at a briefing on Wednesday.
"The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations offered its help for the rescue operation," she said, adding that there was no need in this. "However Russian-made helicopters, produced at enterprises of Russian Helicopters, were engaged. We are glad that thus we have also made a contribution to rescuing the lives of 12 young football players and their coach," Zakharova said.
On June 23, national park staff found a motorbike, bicycles and sports equipment near a cave entrance and contacted a local football club, which confirmed that those things belonged to 12 kids aged between 11 and 16 years and their 25-year-old coach. The cave where the group went missing stretches almost ten kilometers, it has several entrances and exits, as well as large chambers, where the group members found shelter from the rising waters caused by a rainy season downpour.
On July 8-9, divers succeeded in evacuating eight children, who were taken to the hospital in helicopters. On July 10, rescue workers brought out the remaining four kids and the coach.