HEARTBREAKING TWIST FOR AUSSIE CAVE DIVE HERO
HE WAS the unassuming hero of the Thai cave rescue.
Yet as he brought the final group of boys and their soccer coach out of the Thai caves, Australian doctor Richard Harris learned he had lost his “best mate” — his father.
Harris’s father, 80-year James, died in Adelaide a short time after the successful mission — but not without knowing his son was playing the most critical role.
MedSTAR director of clinical services Dr Andrew Pearce yesterday confirmed Dr Harris, known as Harry, had endured a “tumultuous week with highs and lows”.
“I have spoken with Harry,” Dr Pearce said. “This is clearly a time of grief for the Harris family, magnified by the physical and emotional demands of being part of this week’s highly complex and ultimately successful rescue operation.
“Harry is a quiet and kind man who did not think twice about offering his support on this mission. He will be coming home soon and taking some well-earned time off to be with his family.”
James Harris’s best friend for 80 years and best man at his wedding Peter Harbison said James hadn’t been in the best of health because of heart issues.
A renowned former vascular surgeon and senior consultant at Adelaide’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, James died knowing his son was in northern Thailand helping save the 13 Wild Boars.
“He was a brilliant vascular surgeon,” said Mr Harbison.
Dr Harris, 53, spoke with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull by telephone as he prepared to return to Australia.
“The big heroes in this are these children and the former Thai Navy seals who were looking after them,’’ Dr Harris told Mr Turnbull. “They’re the toughest blokes and kids I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.
“They are the ones who were responsible for their own morale and really their own safety. And without them being in the state they’re in we couldn’t have done anything — so that’s where all the credit really lies.”
Dr Harris, a South Australian anaesthetist and experienced cave diver, swam into the cave with a Thai medical team to triage the 12 members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach who became trapped in the Tham Luang cave on June 23.
He said the last 200m underwater when leaving the cave system had been the most difficult stage and involved twisting sideways through holes in zero visibility.
“You’re following the line and basically might as well have your eyes closed for the whole trip,’’ he said.
Dr Harris administered a sedative to each of the boys before they left the ledge in order to alleviate any panic and only left the cave when the last boy had been rescued each day.
There are calls from hundreds of Australians on social media for the expert medic to be handed the Australian of the Year award for his involvement.
Dr Harris was assisted by Dr Craig Challen, a veterinarian and cave diver from WA, whose role was as a support diver for Dr Harris.
“He was essentially assisting him with all the dives, with carriage of equipment — quite a large responsibility that required a lot of specialist equipment,” said Major Alex Rubin of the ADF.
Dr Harris and Dr Challen were two of 19 Australians who helped during the massive international rescue effort, along with defence force personnel, six Australian Federal Police divers and a crew of support staff including a psychologist, a chaplain and an interpreter.
The final four boys and their coach were escorted from the cave on Tuesday night — 18 days after first becoming trapped.
The boys joined eight other teammates at Chiang Rai Hospital where they are expected to be kept for observation for a week.