Hero doc emerges to family tragedy

SYDNEY: An Australian doctor who looked after a young Thai football team during their harrowing cave ordeal emerged from the flooded underground complex to the sad news that his own father had died.

Richard Harris, a world-renowned medic and diver whose presence in the dramatic rescue of the Wild Boars squad was specially requested by experts, was reportedly the last person to leave the water-logged cavern on Tuesday.

“Harry”, as he is known in the global caving community, cancelled a planned holiday and jetted in to northern Thailand as part of the international team trying to get the youngsters out of the Tham Luang cave.

Australian media said he put his own life at risk to venture 4km into the flooded cave to medically assess the 12 boys and their coach each day after they were found, giving final approval on their fitness to be taken out.

But while the rescue had a happy ending, there was personal sadness for the Adelaide-based anaesthetist when he learned that his father had died.

“It is with great sadness that I confirm that Harry’s dad passed away last night a short time after the successful rescue operation in Thailand,” said Andrew Pearce, head of clinical services at SAAS MedSTAR, where Harris works.

“I have spoken with Harry. 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.”

The circumstances of his father’s death are not known, but Pearce said he was not sick when his son left on his dangerous mission.

The Australian Medical Association described Harris as “an amazing doctor and human being”, but the anaesthetist insisted he was not the hero of the piece.

“The big heroes in this are the children and the four Thai Navy Seals who were looking after them,” he told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a Skype call yesterday.

“They’re the toughest blokes and kids I have ever had the privilege to meet.

“They were the ones responsible for their own morale and safety.” – AFP