Thai cave hero, Adelaide doctor Richard Harris, reveals boys were repeatedly sedated during swim
THAI cave rescue hero Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris says the cave dive wasn’t that hard — but has revealed the frightening part was teaching fellow divers to be “amateur anaesthetists” to repeatedly re-sedate the boys mid-rescue.
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HUMBLE hero Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris is still “pinching myself” that the daring Thai cave rescue saved all 12 boys and their soccer coach — and has revealed his fear knowing each boy would need to be repeatedly sedated “by amateurs” as they were ferried out of the flooded subterranean system on stretchers.
Speaking after a reception in his honour hosted by South Australian Governor Hieu Van Le at Government House, Dr Harris paid tribute to “amateur anaesthetists” he taught to administer life-threatening drugs as the boys made the three-hour journey to safety.
“I had to basically teach the other cave divers to readminister the sedation when the time was right, it was far more frightening and challenging for them as amateur anaesthetists to have to do that and take that responsibility on themselves,” Dr Harris said.
“Those guys are exceptional in their can-do attitude and their courage, that they took that on themselves to administer potentially life-threatening anaesthetic drugs to the kids to keep them sedated enough to get out of the cave.
“All the children needed to be re-sedated at different times — it took up to three hours to get the kids out and the anaesthetic only lasted 45 minutes to an hour.”
Australia’s hero of the moment also revealed his own heroes were lone explorers and adventurers such as Sir Hubert Wilkins, Sir Douglas Mawson and Dick Smith — “People who get out and have a go and a bit of an adventure.”
The reception for Dr Harris and his family was in the grand ballroom of Government House with its ornate ceilings and twin crystal chandeliers, where portraits of a young Queen Victoria as well as Queen Elizabeth gazed down on 80 seated VIPs including more than a dozen state and federal MPs.
Dr Harris received a standing ovation that went for nearly as long as his two-minute speech, which paid tribute to the united rescue effort.
“I’m sure I speak for all the Australians involved in the cave rescue when I say we have been overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill and thanks that we have received from people all around Australia, in Thailand and other parts world,” he told the reception.
“Most of the people who have contacted us are complete strangers and yet they have taken time to pen a letter or send a message on social media and in a couple of cases even make a video with their school classes or workplaces to send through to us.
“The reason for this outpouring of gratitude is obviously because of the success of the rescue and the fact it represented such a great example of international co-operation.
“The many thousands of people involved, not just in and around the cave but in embassies and offices around the world, all had a common goal, to save the 12 children and their coach.
“I think we were all ready for a good news story.
“The days we spent in the cave did not actually represent any great physical hardship and the diving in the cave itself was not as challenging or as dangerous as a lot of the stuff we do recreationally.
“But the sense of responsibility for those little kids was overwhelming and the prospect of success seemed very slim.
“The fact that our rescue strategy worked, and not just once but 13 times, still seems beyond the realms of possibility and I am still pinching myself that this has been the outcome.
“To represent Australian as part of a very small Australian medical assistance team with my friend Craig and working side-by-side with the men and women of Australia, Thailand and many other countries besides was a very great privilege.
“I’m very proud to be a South Australian and I am very glad the Aussie contingent did our bit to help those kids.”
Governor Hieu Van Le said Australian rescue team embodied national qualities — “laconic, pragmatic, cooperative, unassuming but extremely effective” while the Thai Ambassador Mrs Nantana Sivakua said the rescue team working together “reaffirmed our faith in the power of solidarity and unity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.”