The border town of Mae Sai in Northern Thailand is celebrating the rescue of the group. The operation to rescue them involved thousands of people, including specialist cave divers from all over the world. The specialists considered the rescue operation to be fraught with danger, on a scale never attempted before. But the operation was pronounced a resounding success. Tony Cheng has the report.

Ambulances arrive at Chiang Rai hospital on Tuesday night to cheers. They were celebrating a victory against all the odds. The wild boars football team was coming home. The rescue operation was an International affair with divers from the UK, US, Australia and elsewhere assisting the Thai Navy Seals.

Bringing young boys who couldn't swim, through a complicated dive of three hours was almost unimaginable. Even the experts had assessed quietly beforehand it was very unlikely all would survive. The Australian Federal Police had brought twenty tonnes of equipment into the caves and valuable expertise. But even they were surprised by the success of the rescue.

GLEN MCEWEN ASIA MANAGER FOR AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE "It's amazing what the human being can do. There are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. And when you have a common purpose, particularly when there's a human element involved, everyone steps up, egos put aside, and it's hands to the wheel and get on with it. I have to say, everyone did that and it was an absolute pleasure to watch that in motion."

Watching the rescue closely was Tam Guntawong, Aunt of Aek, the twenty-five-year-old coach and the last of the group to exit the cave.

Since he was orphaned as a boy, he had been like one of her own and the relief to know he was safe was indescribable.

TAM GUNTAWONG AUNT OF TEAM COACH EKKAPOL 'AKE' CHANTAWONG "All my family and neighbors were screaming with joy when I was told they were found alive in the cave."

She hasn't seen him yet, and won't be able to for several days. But she's prepared the meal he asked for in the note sent from the darkness of the cave and she never gave up hope he'd return.

"I didn't think that they'd died. I was certain they'd run for their lives to survive. I even thought they weren't inside the cave, because the rescuers didn't find any of the snacks they took inside."

TONY CHENG MAE SAI "Today this small rural community in rural Thailand is slowly getting back to normal. The mountains behind me have been buzzing for weeks with the sound of lorries, helicopters and search and rescue teams.

The parents and relatives of the 12 boys and their coach haven't been able to hug their kids as they no doubt want to, but they know for sure, that their boys are definitely coming home.

Tony Cheng CGTN Mae Sai Northern Thailand."