A Thai soldier is studying the site's topography (Photo:Reuters)

Former SEAL Saman Kunan died Friday night due to a lack of air while attempting to return to a command center deep underground, Chiang Rai Deputy Governor Passakorn Boonyalak said.

Chiang Rai authorities told reporters on Thursday that maintaining contact with the rescue team is a great challenge, and a storm is likely coming soon. They said the contact line with people in the cave is not fully installed, and it may take 11 hours to move from the cave entrance to the soccer team and back, because parts of the cave are deep under water.

Thai military has been pumping water out of the cave but if they can not hold the water level down, they will be left with 2 options: teaching the boys to use diving equipment or waiting months until the raining season ends.