FILMING for a movie based on the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their football coach from a Thai cave is to take place in Ireland this weekend.
The scene depicting the homecoming of cave diver Jim Warny, who assisted in the rescue, will be shot at Shannon Airport in Co. Clare on Sunday.
A crew will recapture the poignant moment Mr Warny is reunited with his family for new movie, The Cave.
The Ennis-based diving expert will play himself, with filmmakers wanting the movie to be as accurate as possible.
'Real life heroes'
“We want to tell the story of those brave people who selflessly risked their lives to save the boys and their coach,” said director Tom Waller, a Thai filmmaker with Irish heritage.
“To do it right we need to be as accurate as possible and that is why we are enlisting the help of the real life heroes like Jim and bringing him to Shannon Airport to retell his story.”
The Cave will depict the heroic rescue of the 12 boys and their coach who entered the Tham Luang cave in Thailand before being trapped after heavy rains.
The world watched and held its breath as efforts to save the team proved extremely difficult, and one rescuer, a former Thai Navy SEAL, sadly lost his life.
However thanks to a rescue team of 13 international cave divers, including Mr Warny, they were finally rescued in a dramatic operation after more than two weeks.
'Truly special'
Speaking ahead of the film crew’s arrival, Shannon Airport Managing Director Andrew Murphy said: “We’ve had many great homecomings here in recent years but having an opportunity to honour Jim Warny back in July was truly special.
“The fact that a film is now being made to commemorate his bravery and that of all of those involved is a wonderful tribute to a selfless man, who risked his own life to save the lives of those children and their coach.”
Filming for The Cave will take place in Ireland and Thailand until the end of December, with the film expected to be released next year.
