BANGKOK, Oct. 2 -- Canadian diver Erik Brown, who helped rescue 12 young footballers trapped in Thailand's Tham Luang Nang Non cave complex in Chiang Rai in a dramatic operation that gripped the world in 2018, has died at the age of 44.

Brown's death was announced by family and friends on Sept 26, but the exact date and cause of his death have not been revealed.

Originally from British Columbia, Brown was based on the Thai island of Koh Tao in Surat Thani province, where he founded Hydronauts Diving Resort.

During the cave rescue, he was part of an international team of divers involved in the rescue of the Wild Boars football team, after the 12 boys and their coach became trapped inside the cave on June 23, 2018.

That day, heavy monso...