How tough and brave are the 12 young Thai footballers who survived for more than 10 days trapped in a cave in pitch darkness more than a kilometre underground?
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And how dedicated, brave and selfless are the hundreds of people, including six diving experts from Australia, three from the United Kingdom, three from Laos and 84 from the Thai navy who found them?
In what has, until now, been a particularly uninspiring six months both at home and abroad, this is the good news story of the year.
Within days of the story breaking, that the group, consisting of 12 young players ranging in age from 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach, were missing, most people around the world had given them up for dead.
Yes, it was a terrible tragedy. Yes, it seems as if it could have been avoided. But, given the conditions, the damp, and the cold, the fact they had no food and had even left their shoes and packs behind then what chance did they have?
That view, fortunately, was not shared by the rescuers on and under the ground.
Rescue authorities from nations all around the world, including Australia, America, the United Kingdom, China, Laos and Japan, were also hopeful of a positive outcome. This was despite the fact heavy rain had caused flash flooding in the massive cave system.
The consensus was that while the group, who were apparently undergoing an initiation ritual and had visited the caves many times before, may have been cut off from the entrance by the rising flood waters, there was a good chance they could have found refuge in an elevated air pocket in the Tham Luang Cave network.
The real concern was whether or not, given their lack of preparedness for an extended stay in the underworld, they could survive long enough to be found alive.
Growing fears this was not going to happen were dispelled in an instant on Tuesday when two experienced British cave divers, Richard Stanton and John Volanthon, made contact with the group after negotiating almost two kilometres of flooded labyrinth.
The 13 were about four kilometres from the cave entrance and about 300 metres deeper into the system than the area where it was originally thought they might have found refuge.
That spot, a large cavern known as Pattaya Beach, had also flooded as a result of the rains.
While serious questions will need to be answered by Moo Paa soccer team coach, Ekapol Chanhawong, over his actions in leading the youngsters into danger, he does deserve credit for taking care of them once they were cut off and keeping the group together and in reasonable shape.
Numerous rescuers have expressed surprise at how well they have held up given just how terrifying this ordeal, compounded by a lack of food, pitch darkness and the constant fear the flood waters could continue to rise, must have been.
While there is still some doubt over exactly when and how the group will be freed, the important thing is they are alive and in the hands of some of the most highly trained rescue experts on the planet.
We are all hoping for a truly happy ending.
