Thai cave rescue: hero Aussie doctor Richard Harris wins world’s heart but his loses dad

Richard Harris stayed in the cave until the last boy was free. Then he emerged to find out his father had died.

Richard Harris, right, with dive partner Craig Challen. Picture: AAP

Richard Harris and Craig Challen, an Australian cave-diving duo who played a leading role in saving the 12 Thai boys and their football coach, are modestly calling themselves “nobodies”. The rest of the world, from political leaders to colleagues, says they are heroes.

Yet despite the week’s euphoric success, “Harry” Harris experienced unexpected tragedy when he emerged.

After the final rescue of the group of 13 on Tuesday night, the 53-year-old anaesthetist from Adelaide returned from Tham Luang cave to be told by family members that his father, former vascular surgeon Jim ­Harris, had died suddenly in South Australia.

“If you could imagine being physically and mentally exhausted after going through a rescue and then have to deal with that … when you’ve given your all and you find out the sad news about your father, who’s your best mate, that’s really, really tough,” MedSTAR clinical director Andrew Pearce said in Adelaide yesterday. “He needs time to decompress, take time out, get over what he’s actually been through...”

Dr Harris, a very private man who has declined all interview requests, was already known to the federal government through his work with aid programs in developing countries.

He told Malcolm Turnbull by phone yesterday that the real ­heroes were the boys and the former Royal Thai Navy SEALs who looked after them. “They’re the toughest blokes and kids I’ve ever had the privilege to meet,” he said.

Dr Harris had been on a family holiday from MedSTAR, SA ­Ambulance’s 24-hour emergency medical retrieval service, when his world-renowned skill set was called on by Thai government ­officials.

The call for help followed a ­recommendation by a British ­diving team that first found the trapped boys, who are aged 11 to 16.

Dr Harris had dived the 3.2km to where the group was sheltering every day of the rescue to provide medical clearance for each one for the perilous journey out, and left the cave only when the last boy had been rescued each day.

He requested Dr Challen, a ­retired Perth vet and long-time mate, as his dive partner. As members of the Wet Mules diving club — an informal group of seven elite cave divers whose website describes them as “a bunch of nobodies” — the pair had embarked on many dangerous dives over almost two decades.

Their bravery, alongside that of a multinational taskforce which included 19 Australians, was praised by the Prime Minister yesterday. “It’s one of the most heroic and inspiring episodes of our times,” Mr Turnbull said.

Australian Defence Force spokesman Alex Rubin said Dr Harris’s skill and humility had earned the respect of the entire rescue team.

“He is what I would consider personally one of the most professional doctors I have ever met,” he said. “His unique skill sets as a specialist doctor and also his extensive experience as a cave diver were quintessential to the success of this operation which was led very well by the Thai authorities.”

Acting Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotanakorn had earlier said Dr Harris was “very good … the best, not good, the very best”.

Late last night, the Thai Navy SEALs offered their condolences to Dr Harris in a Facebook page. “Our condolences to Doctor Richard Harris, one of the leading rescuers ... We wish you the best for this very tough time,” the post read. “We (can) never thank you enough for what you’ve done for the kids, their families and Thailand.

“Thank you Richard and thank you, Australia!”