HEARTBREAKING: Father of Aussie diving hero dies just hours after completion of cave rescue

 

Dr Richard Harris//File photo

 

While the world celebrated the rescue of 12 boys and their football coach who had been trapped in the Tham Luang cave for more than two weeks, tragedy has struck the life of an Australian doctor credited with playing a key role in the rescue.

 

Dr Richard Harris, who is reportedly an anaesthetist, world renowned experienced cave diver and has worked for MedSTAR in South Australia for thirty years learned that his father had died shortly after completing the rescue mission in the cave.

 

The death was confirmed by MedSTAR Director of Clinical Services Dr Andrew Pearce on Wednesday morning.

 

“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,” he said.

 

“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.

 

Dr Pearce spoke of how proud he was of Dr Harris, who he said had endured a “tumultuous week with highs and lows”.

 

“We are delighted that Harry and the boys are safe and that he was able to play such a remarkable role in the Australian response,” Dr Pearce said.

 

“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. He has asked that the family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

 

Earlier it was reported that Dr Harris had played a key role in the extraction of the boys from inside the cave, determining which of the boys should be first to leave the cave.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-07-11

 

 How tragic to be on a high after helping save the boys, then getting news his father has died.

Well Dr Harris your father at least died happy knowing you had done a marvelous thing.

R.I.P., SIR.

Off topic post removed

Well done Dr. Richard Harris, our sincere thanks from Thailand along with deepest sympathies but I’m sure you’ll take some consolation from the fact, your Dad died as a justifiably, very proud man.

 

A former South Australian and now resident of Chiang Mai.  

Thanks cobber

6 hours ago, colinneil said:

 How tragic to be on a high after helping save the boys, then getting news his father has died.

Well Dr Harris your father at least died happy knowing you had done a marvelous thing.

R.I.P., SIR.

Life gives and life takes

Very sad news, he risked his life and saved many only to learn that he lost a close family member whilst he was still in the cave.  I nominate Dr Richard Harris as Australian of the year for the 26th January 2019.

Very,very sad is all I can say

To be honest I don't understand why this news was made public. This is a private matter. 

3 hours ago, Thechook said:

Very sad news, he risked his life and saved many only to learn that he lost a close family member whilst he was still in the cave.  I nominate Dr Richard Harris as Australian of the year for the 26th January 2019.

? make it official chock... don’t know how, but make it so.

To my understanding Dr. Harris's father death was not sudden and he was already near the end of his life?

If so then it reflects a thousand times more how selfless Dr. Harris was to choose to help others even though he could have chosen not to and stayed by his father's side.

 

He chose to volunteer because he knew he could save lives.

 

I hope he finds solace in the fact that he helped save 13 lives and that his father is now in a better place looking down at him even prouder of him then he was before.

Edited July 11, 20187 yr by smileydude

even with all this happening he was the last man out of the cave, really does show how committed he was to everyone else's safety, putting everyone else before himself shows his character and the way he avoids promoting himself shows great humility. A true hero

18 hours ago, Thechook said:

Very sad news, he risked his life and saved many only to learn that he lost a close family member whilst he was still in the cave.  I nominate Dr Richard Harris as Australian of the year for the 26th January 2019.

 

14 hours ago, farcanell said:

? make it official chock... don’t know how, but make it so.

https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate/

 

HTH

1 hour ago, lvr181 said:

 

https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate/

 

HTH

Thanks... took a couple of minutes.... mainly because the system thinks I’m a robot

But.... done.... although the more the merrier, I suppose

On 7/12/2018 at 10:22 AM, seajae said:

even with all this happening he was the last man out of the cave, really does show how committed he was to everyone else's safety, putting everyone else before himself shows his character and the way he avoids promoting himself shows great humility. A true hero

What a down to earth individual he is