A former Thai Navy Seal diver Saman Kunan, 38, has died carrying out the Thailand cave rescue operations.

JUST IN: Former Thai navy Seal who joined #ThamLuang rescue operation lost his life Thursday night on his way out from the cave complex after delivering oxygen tanks pic.twitter.com/F6azBPNdCZ

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) July 6, 2018

The tragedy occurred on July 6 early morning.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the former Petty Officer first class lost consciousness after placing oxygen tanks in the cave complex.

He did not regain consciousness despite first aid attempts, and eventually passed away at 1am local time, Friday.

"His job was to deliver oxygen. He did not have enough on his way back." an official told BBC.

Kunan is from the town of Roi Et.

His body has been sent to Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok.

The rescue is being carried out after the twelve boys and their coach were on a team outing on June 23, but a sudden and continuous downpour left them stranded in the caves.

The team and their coach were found after nine days of being missing in the caves.

Underscoring the challenge of the rescue operation

Kunan's death casts a light on just how challenging the conditions of the rescue operation really are.

Given that Kunan was an experienced diver, questions are now being raised if such an option is still viable for the children.

Spokesman is asked how children can be ferried through this cave if an adult former navy seal died in there. "We have to try everything" he says #Thamluangcave

— michael safi (@safimichael) July 6, 2018

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Most of the boys are unable to swim. They are also physically weak after going for days without food, although they are currently given supplies.

The passageways are narrow and with water levels that may rise even further, it will be difficult to navigate.

Rescue operations could take four months:

Falling oxygen levels

According to the BBC, there are now concerns by the authorities that oxygen levels in the chamber where the boys and their coach are trapped are falling.

Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn said that the large number of people working in the caves were depleting the oxygen levels.

Plans are being put in place by the authorities on installing a 5km long cable that reaches the team's chamber to supply them with additional air.

No change in plans for now

Given that other proposed plans extracting the football team carries even higher risks, it would appear that having them learn diving to get out remains the best option for now.

#ThamLuang: Distance between Chamber 3 in cave complex to where football team is stranded is 1.7km. One diver needs to carry at least 3 oxygen tanks to reach them before replacing tanks the on way out. Despite the casualty, plan still remains for stranded boys, coach to dive out

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) July 6, 2018

The operation so far has involved over a 1,000 personnel from countries such as China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Top image via Thai Navy Seal Facebook