Saman Kunan

[3] Saman was posthumously awarded the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, one of the country's highest honors, by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

[4] He is featured in a large mural titled "The Heroes", which has been installed in the new memorial hall at the entrance of the Tham Luang cave.

He attended the Naval Academy School and joined the Underwater Demolition Assault Unit, also known as the Thai Navy SEALs.

[11] In June and July 2018, Saman was a volunteer diver in the Tham Luang cave rescue, an international rescue operation to extract 12 boys and their football coach trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non, a large cave system beneath the Doi Nang Non mountain.

On the evening of 5 July, Saman and a diving partner entered the cave to place air tanks along a planned exit route.

A petty officer first class upon leaving the Navy, King Vajiralongkorn posthumously promoted Saman to lieutenant commander, an unprecedented rise of seven ranks.

[15] Iker Casillas, a former goalkeeper for the Spanish national team, who posted a photo of Saman on his Instagram and expressed his admiration.

[16] On July 12, 2018, a charity was organized in Phayao province to raise funds for the family of Navy Lieutenant Saman.