British ‘Real Hero’ Diver Gets Official Escort To Airport

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

 

BANGKOK — One of the British caving experts who helped discover the 13 missing in a Chiang Rai cave quietly left Thailand Wednesday night with the tourism minister personally thanking him at the airport.

 

Robert Charles Harper of the British Cave Rescue Council was accompanied to Suvarnabhumi Airport by Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat. A dinner of tom yum goong was given to Harper before he boarded a Thai Airways flight to London’s Heathrow Airport and the authorities paid a for a new pair of shoes purchased by Harper to replaced the torn one.

 

Full story:  http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/07/05/british-real-hero-diver-gets-official-escort-to-airport/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-07-05

An off topic post has been removed.

Warm farewell for British caver hero

By Suthinan Kongsin 
The Nation

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat presented a certificate of honour to Briton Robert Charles Harper at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Wednesday night as the cave expert who played a crucial role in finding the 13 footballers departed for home.
 

In an 11pm ceremony, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also gave him a painting of Harper and his two British colleagues as a keepsake.

 

Thai Airways International acting president Usanee Sangsingkeo was present. The national carrier and its subsidiary Thai Smile Airways had flown Harper from Chiang Rai to Bangkok free of charge and were taking him home to England as well.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349370

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-05

Well at least they did not give him the usual escort to swampy for the over stayers and those without work permits...  

I'm hoping he won't have to buy any of his drinks when he next returns.

I thought that it was pretty decent of the Thai officials to do this. Robert Harper doesn't do the voluntary work for money or recognition, he does it because he's a decent human being and I suspect he enjoys the technical challenge posed ... we all salute you Mr Harper!

 

Let's hope the kids all get out safely and soon.

Well done that man maybe a gold watch next time if they can borrow one. 

I just hope that Thailand will pay it forward with kindness and consideration when one day Thailand will be called to the task...  

Nice touch seeing him off in this manner. 

well at least he got the elephant bag, I would like to see some pointing, and why no wand in the metal detector, it's not the MRT? :)

Wonderful to read some positive news for a change !  A fantastic job, well done !

Could have given this very brave gentlemen one of those borrowed famous gold watches as a keepsake for saving the lives of those children because without him and his foreign colleagues I doubt they would have survived for much longer it’s incredible that they lasted so long without Illness or injury  safe journey home Sir I hope Thai airways gave you the best service you could have asked for you are an incredible person ??

I certainly hope they stuck him in 1st class. 

1 hour ago, SneekyPete said:

I'm hoping he won't have to buy any of his drinks when he next returns.

I think he will never have to anymore if he comes back!

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

Well done that man maybe a gold watch next time if they can borrow one. 

 

There's a thought, and another one - why the tourism minister?

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

 

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

 

He didn't have a work permit?

I hope Thai people have learnt a lesson on respect and international cooperation.

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

There's a thought, and another one - why the tourism minister?

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

The only official who can speak English?

Oh blimey, wonderful job Sir!

2 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I thought that it was pretty decent of the Thai officials to do this. Robert Harper doesn't do the voluntary work for money or recognition, he does it because he's a decent human being and I suspect he enjoys the technical challenge posed ... we all salute you Mr Harper!

 

Let's hope the kids all get out safely and soon.

 

The heart background and the caricature drawings of the three Brits and all the football boys is just wonderful, nice focus, heart jerking and poignant. Well done!

18 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

The only official who can speak English?

Well there's not too many, actually the transport minster was also present and he also can speak very advanced English.

 

Ed. ministry fails again.....

Just now, scorecard said:

 

There's a thought, and another one - why the tourism minister?

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

 

The Police chief was still checking to see whether the drone operators had the correct license for their drones!!

I'm suprised he's leaving already unless he has too get back to his normal life which could be possible, kids, wife and work ect ect but i'm sure he expertise could have been used in extracting the kids if they have to dive. His knowledge could well be worth putting him on the pay roll, farang pay roll that is. 

 

Anyway, well done to both them  

2 hours ago, Basil B said:

Well at least they did not give him the usual escort to swampy for the over stayers and those without work permits...  

The only difference was a bowl of soup

6 minutes ago, irishken said:

I'm suprised he's leaving already unless he has too get back to his normal life which could be possible, kids, wife and work ect ect but i'm sure he expertise could have been used in extracting the kids if they have to dive. His knowledge could well be worth putting him on the pay roll, farang pay roll that is. 

 

Anyway, well done to both them  

There's more to the story not making the news. I'll put it this way, the next heros you see in this story will not be foreigners. 

35 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

There's a thought, and another one - why the tourism minister?

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

 

Too busy organizing shakedown assignments for the week and perhaps he feels more important than the rescuers.

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

I just hope that Thailand will pay it forward with kindness and consideration when one day Thailand will be called to the task...  

Like, to go to the UK to expel some ghosts?

39 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

There's a thought, and another one - why the tourism minister?

Further, still no visit or comment from the national police chief.

 

too busy checking drone and drilling permits and making sure all Thai's who entered the cave area paid their Baht 20 and Baht 400 for the foreigners - details, remember details.  

he didn't get fined for not having a work permit haha joke ! fair play to guy  

Very proud of the Brits,  especially for finding those kids.  Incredibly brave men.