Dr. Richard Harris and Dr. Craig Challen, Australian cave divers and rescuers, will visit Thailand from 18 – 30 April 2019 at the invitation of the Royal Thai Government extended to foreign experts and divers who took part in the successful rescue mission of the Moo Pa (Wild Boars) Academy Mae Sai Football Team from Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai Province in 2018.

 

On 19 April 2019, Dr. Harris and Dr. Challen will pay a courtesy call on H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and attend a presentation ceremony presided over by the Prime Minister, where they will be conferred the Royal Decoration of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn, bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, at the Government House, in recognition of their roles in the rescue mission. On the same day, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, will also host a luncheon in honour of the two Australian experts. 

 

On 21 April 2019, Dr. Harris and Dr. Challen will travel to Chiang Rai Province and meet with the Wild Boars Football Team as well as the Tham Luang cave. Afterwards, they will take a private visit to Kanchanaburi and Phuket and participate in activities organized by the Australian Embassy.

 

This is Dr. Harris and Dr. Challen’s first visit to Thailand following their rescue mission at Tham Luang cave last year. This visit will provide an opportunity for strengthening people-to-people relations between Thailand and Australia.