They were trapped looking for gold in a flooded cave. How were they found and will they be rescued? | CNN

Hope has returned for the five trapped men deep inside a flooded Laos cave. For more than a week, they huddled together above the murky waters in the pitch black, more than 260 meters from the cave’s entrance, wondering if anyone would ever find them. On Wednesday, after days of hunger, salvation finally came as rescuers emerged from the darkness, illuminating the narrow rocky cavern with their headlamps. “There are people here to help now,” said Norased Palasing, a Thai specialist cave diver and one of the multi-national rescue team involved in what has become a heart-stopping race against time. “The important thing is that you’re alive. It’s okay, it’s okay, you’ve done really well. Don’t cry.” One of the trapped men, who gave his name as Ing, said into the rescuers’ camera: “Don’t worry, Mom. The rescue team has reached us now. We’re safe. I miss Mom and Dad so much. We’ll probably get out tomorrow or the day after.” Celebrations extended above ground, where desperate loved ones and the rescuers rejoiced at their survival following a perilous search. Finnish diver Mikko Paasi, who is part of the operation, toasted the team’s “amazing work” i