Manchester United offers invitation to rescued boys from flooded cave

People celebrate after evacuation in Chiang Rai as divers evacuated some of the 12 boys and their coach trapped at Tham Luang cave in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

The story that has gripped the planet has come to a happy conclusion, and looks to have an even happier epilogue.

On Tuesday, all 12 boys and coach of the Wild Boars soccer team were successfully rescued from the flooded cave in northern Thailand after a harrowing 18-day ordeal.

This ends an amazing tale of real heroism from the the rescue crew and remarkable courage from young Thai footballers and their 25-year-old coach.

There was widespread celebration in the aftermath, but for the 13 brave souls saved, the real payoff for their resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity may be coming in early August.

Premier League club Manchester United has extended an invitation to the Wild Boars to pay a visit to Old Trafford this coming season.

“We would be honoured to welcome the team from the Wild Boars Football Club and their rescuers to Old Trafford this coming season,” a post on the Red Devils’ official Facebook page says.

Manchester United is greatly relieved to learn that the 12 footballers and their coach trapped in a cave in Thailand are…

Posted by Manchester United on Tuesday, July 10, 2018

According to BBC Southeast Asia correspondant Jonathan Head, many of the Wild Boars players are Man United fans, so this could be a particularly special moment for the boys.

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