An Australian doctor who freed 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave has said the scariest part was sedating them before the daring rescue.
Anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris, from Adelaide, had to estimate how much sedative to give the boys before chaperoning them through murky waters to the cave entrance.
Too little and they may have panicked and drowned, but too much would have knocked them out, preventing them from swimming to safety.
Anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris (left with dive partner Dr Challen), had to estimate how much sedative to give the boys during the rescue
Dr Craig Challen (left) and Dr Richard Harris (right) were among an international team of experts who freed the trapped boys and their 25-year-old coach from the cave complex in Tham Luang earlier this month
Australian member of the Thai cave rescue team, Dr Richard Harris is honoured with the Order of Australia and the Star of Courage by Governor General Peter Cosgrove
He and his dive partner Dr Craig Challen on Tuesday received the rare double honour of the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Star of Courage for their roles in the dangerous mission.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Harris said he essentially had to guess how much sedative to administer.
‘It was an estimate to start with. The first child was an experiment in a way,’ he said.
‘It was a good guess with a lot of advice from a lot of other specialists. I was contacting specialists in Australia, I talked extensively with a variety of specialists in Thailand, and took a lot of their advice on board.
‘And they were happy with the plan that we put forward — but I have never done it in the back of a cave with malnourished, skinny, dehydrated Thai kids before. That for me was the most frightening part of the week.’
Adelaide anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris and his dive partner Dr Craig Challen received the rare double honour of the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Star of Courage for their roles in the daring rescue
He said he could barely believe that all boys made it to safety.
‘We thought the monsoon rains were going to kick in and they were going to be trapped there for several months which was a situation we didn’t think was survivable.
‘Either way we thought the outcome was going to be pretty dismal.’
Dr Harris said he and Dr Challen were planning to head back to some caves near the Thai complex to ‘blow away the cobwebs and get back in the water’ for a re-union with some other rescuers in two weeks’ time.
The cave experts were not the only ones to be honoured as seven divers from the Australian Federal Police were given a bravery medal.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove presented the medals with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony at Government House in Canberra.
Sir Peter said the divers showed ‘Australian values and human qualities we cherish’ during their efforts, The Australian reported.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove (front row, third from left) presented the medals to those involved in the mission, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (front tow, second from right) and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (front row, far left) in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony at Government House in Canberra
‘Our fellow Australians, along with Thai citizens and the men and women of other nations conducted a thrilling rescue of helpless young men, themselves strong and brave, and in doing so captivated the world,’ Sir Peter said.
‘We think that you were remarkable – skilful, tireless, compassionate and courageous. Your nation is so proud of you. Today, Australia salutes you.’
Secretary to the Governor-General, Mark Fraser, said the rescue required ‘character, grit and determination’.
‘They brought the faces of 13 young men back into the sunshine and into the arms of their loved ones,’ he said.
Speaking to those gathered at the ceremony, Mr Turnbull said the rescuers were ‘our heroes’, the ABC reported.
‘During the World Cup the most inspiring story about football was not in Russia, it was in Thailand. And the most inspiring teams were not Les Bleus but the Wild Boars, and you,’ Mr Turnbull said.
It is the first time the rescuers have been reunited since returning to Australia on July 13
‘Your first dives were done without a proper guide rope. There was no defined path through those dark waters. You had to feel your way through the twists and turns of the cave system, with the very real threat all the time of being tangled and trapped.
‘It’s impossible to overstate how dangerous was your task.’
Dr Harris emphasised how crucial teamwork was in the rescue.
‘We just went cave diving for a few days and were able to get the kids out … these awards have been completely unexpected and we’re just trying to emphasise how big a part so many people played in this,’ he said.
It is the first time the rescuers have been reunited since returning to Australia on July 13.
Sydney-based Chief Petty Officer Eather was a key figure in Operation Thailand Assist, having been involved in a number of significant mission since joining the Navy in 1991.
Thailand’s ambassador to Australia and Australia’s ambassador to Thailand, along with the acting chief of the Defence Force and acting Australian Federal Police commissioner were also in attendance.
Thailand’s ambassador to Australia and Australia’s ambassador to Thailand, along with the acting chief of the Defence Force and acting Australian Federal Police commissioner were also in attendance