Australian of the Year: Dr Richard Harris SC OAM, specialist anaesthetist and cave diver

In July 2018, Adelaide anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris made worldwide headlines when he joined an international team to rescue a group of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
A diver with 30 years’ experience and a specialist in aeromedical retrieval, Richard was leaving for a cave-diving holiday when he received the call for help. Under great pressure and putting his own life at risk, he swam through the narrow cave system to assess the health of those trapped, giving the medical all-clear for each evacuee, and administering an anaesthetic to each of them within the cave to facilitate their rescue.
Richard was key to the rescue’s success, showing character, determination and courage, and staying until the last person was safe.
He has previously participated in complex diving recoveries, appeared in National Geographic documentaries and, in 2015, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to cave exploration. In 2017 he was awarded The Australasian Technical Diver of the Year.
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[@Ozjockey111]

Richard you absolutely now understand that it wasn't just the cave rescue that you were a part of, it was humanity coming together for EVERYONE's benefit ! sans religion, sans wars, sans background or skin colours, you were an integral part of the BEST change we've seen in this world for decades and the way we respect each other. Your life up to that point trained you and your colleagues how to change the hope we all have for the future with all the positive emotions, respect and genuine love of humanity. You and all the crews you worked with in that short time are Humanity's champions of the decade! measure those likes against the war mongers?

[@DexterMoregan]

Thank you for help the kids of my country although it makes you miss to see your father alive for the last time. You are a hero of my country. Thank you so much again.

[@chantaltulliez8066]

Admirable undertaking...such courage in the face of adversity...congratulations you are a fine human being...

[@aloysiusdiaz7275]

No words, only a big salute to this Doctor and his country.

[@jr.km.p7219]

You are our hero.

[@Kyu7770]

What you have done for them is more than everything and it's like u are the figure of God in human form 🥰❤️🙏 Bravest human on earth and thanks to all the team of rescuer who have saves precious lives of those children.

[@renartaazzopardi5985]

Amazing man

[@bigbulk688]

These guys are made of different metals altogether.

[@phoebes5844]

One of my favorite people…humble hero

[@yoshigi2003]

u r great . thx so much

[@berthaflores4483]

A real hero !!!

[@omgwth7567]

This man risk his whole life to save the children. 🙏🙏🙏🇹🇭

[@jaykongsawat5435]

Thank you, Richard! From the bottom of my heart Thailand!!!

[@erickemper7779]

A very difficult thing you undertook, being in the medical field all my life, I can understand I would have been devastated by the loss of one child, but I would have been wrong, You did a bold necessary thing, God-bless you

[@chasedoe2594]

180 views WTH! His vids deserves like 2M at least

[@prasangurung5253]

Probably one piece in the world salute to you

[@susilpatra9777]

Hero