The boys in the Thai cave were given anti-anxiety drugs during the rescue to help get them out

• The boys stranded in the flooded Thai cave complex were given anti-anxiety pills to calm their nerves while taken out of the cave, Thailand's prime minister has said.
• A rescue diver previously floated a more radical plan of drugging the boys so they were practically unconscious and having divers carry them out.
• At least nine boys have been taken out of the flooded Thai cave complex so far.

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The boys stranded in the Thai cave complex were given anti-anxiety medication to help them get out, Thailand's prime minister has said.

The junior soccer team, whose members range from 11 to 16 years old, were given the pills to calm their nerves while being taken out of the cave, Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters on Tuesday.

Chan-ocha added that it was the same medication he takes to relax before shooting guns.

“ใครจะวางยาสลบเด็กวะ?

“บิ๊กตู่”ยันหมอไม่ได้วางยาสลบ”หมูป่า”กาอนดำน้ำออกจากถ้ำ แต่ให้กินยาคลายประสาท ไม่panic ไม่ตื่นเต้น ดึงmask ออก ถามใครจะวางยาสลบเด็กวะ? เหมือนที่เรากินยาคลายประสาท ผมเองยังกินทุกวันเลย ยังให้ทหารกิน เวลาจะยิงปืนจะได้แม่นๆ pic.twitter.com/XEy4AJ4F0l

— Deep Blue Sea (@WassanaNanuam) July 10, 2018

Jani Santala, a Finnish diver helping with the rescue efforts, said last week that the most efficient way to get the chidlren out of the cave was to drug them, and have divers carry the sedated boys out.

Santala's idea was not taken up, and this appears to be a much milder solution.

The rescued boys have had to travel about 2 1/2 miles, making their way back to the cave's entrance using a 3-mile rope. They were accompanied by professional divers throughout.

About 0.6 miles of the journey is underwater, requiring the boys to wear full face masks.

The final stage of the rescue was underway on Tuesday afternoon in Thailand, which aims to free the remaining five members of the team. Click here for Business Insider's live coverage.

Eight other boys are currently in hospital recovering after being taken out on Sunday and Monday.

The soccer team and their 25-year-old coach had been stuck in the cave since June 23, and were discovered nine days later.

SEE ALSO: This cartoon depicting the Thai cave rescue is going viral in Thailand — and it has a hidden meaning

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