The following is a reader submitted letter taken from the SNJ of Wednesday, July 18.

NO DOUBT, as I write, we have all followed the near heartbreaking saga of the 12 young boys and their football Coach who became trapped in the cave in Thailand.

Seventeen days cut off in total darkness probably most of the time from the outside world with no knowledge if they’d ever be found.

Here is an event involving first class self discipline coupled with fitness, surely a lesson to all the ‘teenagers and indoor computer gripped game boys in this country’.

No one who hasn’t had such an experience can truly know what those boys went through.

The nearest we ever came to that here was when collapses occurred in coal mines.

I note that Manchester United Football Club has invited them to visit here.

This is possible because of the efforts and total personal commitment of the experienced cave divers from various countries.

This includes the two from England: Mr John Volanthen and Mr Rick Stanton, who trained in the well known caves in Somerset and who were the first to find the boys.

That was an incredible relief to everyone particularly the trapped boys.

Mr John Volanthen and Mr Rick Stanton must be given honourable royal awards to mark their bravery for once such would be justly deserved.

Lee Prescott

Stonehouse