Thailand's cave boys leave hospital for first public appearance

CHIANG RAI, Thailand (Reuters) - The 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach rescued from a flooded cave left a hospital in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Wednesday for a news conference to be broadcast on national television, a Reuters witness said.

The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach sparked an international rescue effort after they became trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave complex.

(Reporting by Vorasit Satienlerk; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Darren Schuettler)