Western Daily Press (Saturday)
George Medal for cave rescuers
ATEAM of British divers have been decorated for their part in the dramatic rescue of a boys’ football team stranded in a cave in Thailand.
Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, from Bristol, who were the first divers to reach the children, have been awarded the George Medal, the second highest civilian gallantry award, announced alongside the New Year Honours list. Expat Vern Unsworth has been made an MBE.
Joshua Bratchley and Lance Corporal Connor Roe were also made MBEs, while Christopher Jewell and Jason Mallinson have been given the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for exemplary acts of bravery.
Reacting to the announcement, Mr Unsworth said: “This was a team effort and I’m very honoured to have been recognised, particularly as you don’t engage in a major rescue expecting this outcome.
“For me, after saving the boys, this is the icing on the cake.”
Mr Jewell from Cheddar, Somerset, who is the diving officer of the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC), praised the “amazing support” they received during and after the rescue.
“People from all over the country and the world have reached out to us to offer congratulations and express their gratitude,” the 36-year-old said.
“Behind every one of the cave divers being honoured is a supporting cast of family, friends, rescue volunteers and employers.
“The support and help from all these people made it possible for us to complete a successful rescue.
“I’ve been really touched by the way everyone has responded. Not only the caving and diving communities, which have rallied around us, but also the support and assistance we’ve had from our employers and work colleagues.
“I really appreciate the recognition our BCRC team is receiving with these honours and thanks to everyone that nominated us.”
Elite divers Mr Stanton and Mr Volanthen both had experience of previous cave rescues, with Mr Stanton involved in the rescue of trapped British soldiers from a cave in Mexico in 2004.
The pair are members of the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue team.
The British divers answered a call by Thai authorities to join the vast search after the group disappeared in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in Chiang Rai province on June 23.
The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16 and members of the local Wild Boars youth football team, had cycled with their coach to the cave to explore when monsoon rains began.
Their parents reported them missing and a major search ensued until Mr Stanton, a firefighter in his 50s from Coventry, and Mr Volanthen, an IT consultant in his 40s and based in Bristol, became the first rescuers to reach the boys and their football coach on July 3.
They still faced the treacherous task of getting the team safely out of the flooded cave and the persistent threat of bad weather heightened the tension in a drama that gripped the world for more than two weeks. ing with the families of murder victims is always tragic but if the help and assistance he had provided was of some comfort he was extremely honoured.
The murders of Evon Berry, Nicholas Robinson, Joanna Yeates, Jama Powell and Becky Watts were among some high-profile cases in which Jon has been involved but he said that every case was equally as important to him and helping the families of the victims.