Hi, this is Jim Denison with Denison Forum, and this is the Daily

Article for Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

Ekapol Aki Chantawang, known as Coach Aki, is the 25-year-old coach of the Wild Boer

soccer team that has made global headlines in recent weeks.

He and the entire team have now been rescued from the cave system in northern Thailand, where

they were trapped since June 23rd.

He was the last one out.

What do we know about him?

His cousin, Thamacontowong, told reporters, he is a very good person, loves kids, takes

care of kids, he's very diligent and always volunteers himself to help others.

Divers who found the team reported that Coach Aki was among the weakest in the group because

he gave his food to the boys.

He taught the meditation techniques and showed them how to drink water from the cave's

walls.

When they were found, he wrote a note to their parents.

I promised to take the very best care of the kids. I want to say

thanks for all the support, and I want to apologize. They wrote back to the coach, asking

him not to blame himself and credit him for keeping their sons alive until they could

be rescued. One of Coach Ocky's friends said of his relationship with the boys, he loved

them more than himself.

I'm sure we'll learn more about the coach in coming days, for this morning I'd like

to focus on his story as a metaphor for our time.

...