BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) – Two Australian doctors of Thai
cave rescue team, Dr. Richard Harris and Craig Challen, have received royal
honours after taking the key roles in saving the lives of 12 young footballers and
their coach last year.
The two doctors who were instrumental in extracting the Wild
Boar football team from flooded Tham Luang Cave last July were given the Most
Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn bestowed by Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn
in a ceremony at Bangkok’s Government House on Friday.
They also met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in their
first trip back to Thailand since the rescue as guest of the Royal Thai
government.
In late July, Dr. Harris and Challen received the Order of
Australia and the Star of Courage at a function at Government House in Canberra
shortly after the rescue operation was accomplished.
Earlier on Friday, Thailand’s Foreign Minister hosted a
luncheon to honor the two Australian doctors who are highly skilled divers.
Challen told reporters that he was delighted to have
returned to Thailand nine months after the rescue mission.
Dr. Harris said he was looking forward to a reunion with the
boys and other rescuers whom he worked with.
The two Australians will travel to Chiang Rai to visit the
football team and the cave complex on Sunday as parts of their trip from April
18-30 which has been sponsored by the Thai government.
They will continue their tour to Kanchanaburi and Phuket
attending activities hosted by the Australian Embassy. (TNA)
