British cave diving hero finds love with Thai nurse

 

Richard Stanton pictured with girlfriend Siripon Bugnngern via Daily Mail

 

One of the hero British divers who found the twelve boys and their football coach trapped in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai has found love with a Thai nurse.

 

According to the Daily Mail, Rick Stanton, 57, has been dating a Thai woman named Siripon Bugnngern, known as Amp, after meeting her while she was on holiday in England earlier this year.

 

Coincidentally, Amp is also from Chiang Rai and was able to act as a volunteer translator to the British diver and other members involved in the rescue mission at Tham Luang cave.

 

An unnamed source told the Daily Mail: "Although it's early days and they haven't been together for long, Rick is absolutely besotted with Amp.

 

"She is from Chiang Rai so when Rick was asked to come and help rescue the missing boys Amp was right by his side.

 

"She has been helping Rick and the other divers throughout the rescue operation. Amp is part of the team, helping translate between the British and Thai rescuers.

 

"They are very close. I wouldn't be surprised if they get married.”

 

A friend also told the news site: “Amp's home town is Chiang Rai, but she met Rick while she was on holiday from her nursing job in Australia.

 

“She came back to Chiang Rai just a few days before Rick was called to help in the rescue operation by chance.

 

“She took part in the rescue mission and stayed with the team of divers during the operation.”

 

The pair are said to share a passion for outdoor pursuits.

 

Rick Stanton, along with fellow diver John Volanthen, were the first two divers to find the missing boys and their football coach inside the cave.

 

Incredible footage caught the moment Mr Stanton discovered the group, who at the time had been trapped inside the flooded cave for nine days with little food and water.

 

On Friday Mr Stanton, Mr Volanthen and other British divers who took part in the rescue mission returned to the UK.

 

As they left, Thai officials revealed the divers would each be given a Thailand Elite Card worth 500,000 baht that allows them to stay in Thailand for 5 years plus other benefits.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Volanthen played down the praise he and the other foreign divers had received both in Thailand and around the world.

 

“We’re not heroes,” Mr Volanthen said after arriving back in London.

 

“What we do is very calculating. It’s very calm, it’s quite the opposite ... But it’s really the international team I would like to focus on and the Thai SEALs.”

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-07-14

8 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

"They are very close. I wouldn't be surprised if they get married.”

 

A friend also told the news site: “Amp's home town is Chiang Rai, but she met Rick while she was on holiday from her nursing job in Australia.

 Good luck to them. 

 

I just hope that they can meet the immigration requirements of whichever country they choose to live in.

Elite CARD in this case was a great gift actually.

This is looking great for the movie, the romantic back story has already been written.

Good luck to them.

 

Chiang Rai is a really nice place to settle Mr Stanton!

2 hours ago, 7by7 said:

 Good luck to them. 

 

I just hope that they can meet the immigration requirements of whichever country they choose to live in.

Bit easier for him to get an Aussie visa,then the other way round.

Most are lovely girls from up that way, and a nurse too. Good luck mate.

Bloody hell! The Daily Mail is jumping the gun a bit with suggestions of marriage.

 

Let's be clear, Amp is just his current girlfriend.

 

All power to them, but with her working in Australia and him working in the UK it's going to be hard to keep the spark alive.

 

A friend also told the news site: “Amp's home town is Chiang Rai, but she met Rick while she was on holiday from her nursing job in Australia.

 

    Good luck! 

18 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Bloody hell! The Daily Mail is jumping the gun a bit with suggestions of marriage.

 

Let's be clear, Amp is just his current girlfriend.

 

All power to them, but with her working in Australia and him working in the UK it's going to be hard to keep the spark alive.

 

Given she is working as a nurse in Australia, I would imagine she could get similar work in the UK, if she so desired. 

The diver and the nurse...Aaaaaaw, how lomantic  ?

Several Thai bashing posts removed, what's wrong with you, seriously what's wrong with you. 

12 hours ago, tryasimight said:

57....bald...... Standard issue expat in the making. 

Cheap shot indeed. He looks pretty ok for 57, his girlfriend seems far from young bargirl material, and more to the point, he only just finished starring in a central role in one of the most daring rescue operations in recent memory. 

1 hour ago, DavisH said:

Given she is working as a nurse in Australia, I would imagine she could get similar work in the UK, if she so desired. 

Depends on her visa status in Australia, but I'd like to think she would be given very preferential treatment in the event of wanting to settle with him in the UK. The average run of the mill visa rejection doesn't make the news, but this one certainly would. 

Richard William Stanton MBE

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stanton_(cave_diver)

Indeed!!  I've fallen in love (however briefly) with a few Thai nurses myself . . . .  

4 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Several Thai bashing posts removed, what's wrong with you, seriously what's wrong with you. 

They are PoorSuckers... ?

An off topic post discussing moderation has been removed

10 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Bloody hell! The Daily Mail is jumping the gun a bit with suggestions of marriage.

 

Let's be clear, Amp is just his current girlfriend.

 

All power to them, but with her working in Australia and him working in the UK it's going to be hard to keep the spark alive.

 

You are a real doom and gloom merchant aren't you ?  Not everyone that comes to Thailand is a sex tourist.

As she appears to have freedom of movement they can meet in many places on a regular basis 

5 hours ago, bluebluewater said:

Indeed!!  I've fallen in love (however briefly) with a few Thai nurses myself . . . .  

Maybe you are just a sex tourist 

11 hours ago, JAG said:

Good luck to them.

 

Chiang Rai is a really nice place to settle Mr Stanton!

And a very nice cave to explore ?

Lovely couple ❤️

in general the nth is a very nice part to live,chiang rai is getting bigger.i prefer chiang mai myself.he made a good choice to go there

you know it's sunday when you read something that's 50% gossip and 50% unrelated to the title. 

Good luck and thank you

Actually she is not a qualified nurse she is a dementia manager, she does not yet work in Australia (but she has plans to) having taking a holiday in the UK from working in Chiang Mai for the last 2 years although before Chiang Mai she did work in Australia. She is one of the nicest girls you could wish to meet and he is a lucky guy. 

7 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Good luck and thank you

Yep-that's about it.

Best of luck and all joy to both of them.

good for them both, I say. 

 

45 minutes ago, bluweyze said:

Actually she is not a qualified nurse she is a dementia manager, she does not yet work in Australia (but she has plans to) having taking a holiday in the UK from working in Chiang Mai for the last 2 years although before Chiang Mai she did work in Australia. She is one of the nicest girls you could wish to meet and he is a lucky guy. 

If she is a dementia manager, she has my absolute utmost respect. I cared for my mother full time for several years of dementia, before coming out here. It was terrible. If she chooses to do it as a vocation then she must be some sort of angel!

Good luck to them both... 
Anybody who can bash this story in any way have some serious issues that need to be addressed.