They collectively did a LOT better then I was expecting having done some of both caving and a little diving back in the day (But never both together!).
I would not have been surprised to have lost one in 5 or so, to get everyone out with the only death being one of the support diving team before the attempt is an utterly remarkable achievement, for all that that death is a tragedy. In fact I would even give the coach credit for the groups survival in the cave, for all that going into that cave at this time of year.... Not the best decision.
Hopefully once the media storm dies down there will be a good write up in one of the usual journals that goes into methods and risk tradeoffs. Sedatives? Yea, likely, seems like given the presence of a medic in the cave it would reduce the risks all round, but who really cares at this point, the important thing is that it worked.
Meanwhile, while all media eyes were on 12 kids and a coach, a tourist boat went down off Thailand will the loss of 50 or so people, and Japan had circa 150 people killed by mudslides and flooding. Amazing how the media loves disasters that play out in slow motion (See also Fukushima and those Peruvian miners).
Regards, Dan.