Footage from the Thai public broadcaster posted minutes ago showed medical teams transferring someone - believed to be the fifth person rescued from the cave - from an ambulance to a waiting helicopter, which then took off in the direction of Chiang Rai, where the four boys already brought out are in hospital.

Image source, AFP/ROYAL THAI NAVY

So far, four boys have been rescued from the cave, and unconfirmed reports are emerging of a fifth rescue after the second stage of the operation began on Monday.

But the Thai authorities have not released any information about which boys have been brought out, other than to say that they would rescue the weakest boys first.

Here are details of all of those who were trapped.

• Chanin Vibulrungruang, 11 (Nickname: Titan) - started playing football aged seven

• Panumas Sangdee, 13 (Nickname: Mig), wrote to his parents: "The Navy Seals are taking good care of me"
• Duganpet Promtep, 13 (Nickname: Dom) - captain of the Wild Boars, reportedly scouted by several Thai professional clubs
• Somepong Jaiwong, 13 (nickname: Pong) - reportedly dreams of playing for the Thai national team
• Mongkol Booneiam, 13 (nickname: Mark) - described by his teacher as a "very respectful and good child"
• Nattawut Takamrong, 14 (nickname: Tern) - told his parents not to worry about him
• Ekarat Wongsukchan, 14 (nickname: Bew) - promised his mother he would help her at the shop once he was rescued
• Adul Sam-on, 14 - member of a volleyball team that came second in a North Thailand-wide tournament
• Prajak Sutham, 15 (nickname: Note) - described by family friends as a "smart, quiet guy"
• Pipat Pho, 15 (nickname: Nick) - wrote in his letter he wanted his parents to take him for barbecued food once rescued
• Pornchai Kamluang, 16 (nickname: Tee) - told his parents "don't worry, I'm very happy"
• Peerapat Sompiangjai, 17 (nickname: Night) - it was his birthday the day the boys went missing, and his parents have told him they are still waiting to hold his birthday party
• Assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong (nickname Ake), 25 - apologised in his letter to the parents, but they replied that they did not blame him

You can read more about the team here.

Rescue workers have carried a person on a stretcher from the cave to a waiting ambulance, Reuters news agency is reporting, citing a Thai navy official.

If confirmed, this would be the fifth person to be brought out and the first of the second phase of the operation.

In a word, very.

The cave complex is a snaking system of caverns and crevices which pose a range of problems for rescuers.

Here's more on the route they will take and quite how hazardous it is.

One Twitter user paid tribute to the resilience of the boys, sharing a sentiment many have expressed over the past week.

The freed boys are "happy and well" and are at Chiang Rai's Prachanukroh hospital.

They will be quarantined "for a while" over concerns of infection, said the head of the rescue mission, Narongsak Osotthanakorn.

"Doctors are determining if the families can visit from afar, like through the glass. We're discussing with the specialists," he said.

Image source, Reuters

Banners thanking the rescuers can be seen across Chiang Rai. Here's one from Mae Sai district, home to several of the boys.

Here's a reminder of the long journey the young boys face to escape the cave.It's an 11-hour round trip for the expert divers - six hours into the cave and five hours out. The route out is the same one the boys will have to make. And it's hard.

The plight of the Thai boys has captured the attention of people around the world. Here's good wishes posted on a customer information board at London's Angel underground station

According to Thai news outlet the Bangkok Post, four more boys will be rescued from the cave today.

That means five may have to wait at least one more day underground.

Ambulances, police and rescue workers were busy at work on Monday in Tham Luang.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

This cartoon has been making the rounds on Thai Facebook and Twitter.

The animal the diver is carrying is a boar piglet - the boys are all in a football team called the Wild Boars and they've been widely called the boars throughout their ordeal.

If you're only tuning in now, here's a quick recap of all that's happened so far on Monday:

• Stage 2 of the rescue operation started at 11:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Monday.
• According to reports, the first boy is expected to emerge around 19:30 to 20:30 local time.
• The four boys who have already been rescued have not been able to see their families yet as they are in quarantine.

• Their families have not been told which children have already been rescued.

The mood is tense in Mae Sai, the closest town to the caves, as people wait for any further news of the boys' safety. Our colleagues have spent some time with local people.

The search is still generating huge interest on the Chinese internet.

On the popular Sina Weibo micro-blogging site, the story is seeing thousands of comments from users who are actively sharing state media coverage. Lots of Weibo users are sharing messages of hope and support.

"Watching this unfold from China and hoping for the best for these innocent lives. A huge thumbs up for rescuers too," wrote Weibo user Cin Chai from Beijing.

"The boys look like they are my brother's age and this tears me," shared another user. "I only hope that the rest of the rescue operation goes smoothly. They have come so far already."

Rescue officials have complained about the behaviour of some of the hundreds of media personnel covering the rescue, accusing some outlets of hacking into authorities' radio frequencies and publishing inaccurate information. They also accused another media outlet of flying a drone, which they say affected the take-off of a rescue helicopter.

Elon Musk, who has offered to do what he can to aid to the rescue, has posted videos on Twitter showing a metallic pod that could be used to help rescue the boys. He had previously said the "kid-size" submarine was light enough to be carried by two divers and small enough to get through narrow gaps.

However, it is unclear how effective this would be, or if it will in fact be used.

Photos, hearts and cute cartoons are put up on display at the Ban Waingphan school, which is attended by one of the trapped boys.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images