Australian divers who helped rescue the Thai soccer team from a cave will receive civilian honors
- The two Australian divers that helped rescue the 12 members of a Thai soccer team and their coach will receive civilian honors.
- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said arrangements for honoring Richard Harris and Craig Challen were already underway.
- Harris medically assessed each boy prior to their rescue and was the last person to leave after the boys had been rescued from a flooded cave.
- The boys and their coach are in good health and are expected to leave hospital in the next 24 hours.
The two Australian divers that helped rescue 12 members of a Thai soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave will be given civilian honors for their efforts.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on radio station 3AW on Tuesday that arrangements for honoring the two divers, Richard Harris and Craig Challen, are "all underway."
Harris and Challen were among the team of international divers who were instrumental in rescuing an entire soccer team from a Thai cave. Harris medically assessed each boy prior to their rescue, and gave the green light for the rescue operation's advancement.
He was also the last person inside the cave once the team had been safely rescued.
"That is one of the most extraordinary acts of heroism, professionalism, discipline, teamwork," Turnbull said.
"That was an example to all of us, a team brought from all over the world showing what people of goodwill and discipline and courage can do when they work together as a team."
Radio host Neil Mitchell also suggested that Harris win the Australian of the Year award, which is currently taking nominations.
"He is he is one of the greatest examples of every Australian value we hold dear," Turnbull responded.
The 12 boys, aged 11-16, and their 25-year-old coach had been trapped in the cave for 10 days before they were discovered. Harris and Challen provided care to the soccer team inside the cave, and were reportedly given diplomatic immunity in case anything went wrong during the dangerous rescue operation.
The boys and their coach are in good health and are recovering in hospital, and are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday evening before they are finally discharged and return home.