Soccer team honors Thai navy SEAL who died rescuing them

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Some of the rescued soccer team members bowing their heads respectfully in front of a sketch of the Thai Navy SEAL diver who died while trying to rescue them. (Thailand's Ministry of Health and the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital via AP)

The 12 boys from a youth soccer team who were rescued from deep within a cave in northern Thailand paid homage to one of their rescuers who died in the attempt to bring them to safety.

The boys posed with a sketch of former Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan and prayed for him on Sunday.

In photos released by the hospital, one of the boys is seen crying.

Kuman, 38, was working in a volunteer capacity and died during an overnight mission in which he was placing oxygen canisters, said Thai officials. While underwater, Kuman passed out and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The youth soccer team and their spent more than two weeks in a cave were being treated at a hospital in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.

Thai media reports the boys are eager to eat their favorite comfort foods after their expected discharge from a hospital next week.