Thai Cave Rescue

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (16:45): I move:

That this council—

1. Celebrates the successful cave rescue of 12 boys and their football coach trapped in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province, Thailand;

2. Mourns the death of Saman Gunan, one of the Thai members of the international rescue team;

3. Acknowledges the key role played by Adelaide-based anaesthetist and MedSTAR doctor, Dr Richard Harris;

4. Acknowledges the contribution of the Australian contingent involved in the Thai-led rescue effort;

5. Acknowledges the leadership and professionalism of the Thai government and the Thai Navy SEALs in effecting the rescue;

6. Acknowledges the involvement and support of the international community, including support divers from the European Union, the United States and China, and participants from military and civilian organisations in various support roles;

7. Recognises South Australia’s proud tradition of providing emergency assistance in response to catastrophic events, such as AUSMAT team member deployments to the Philippines in 2013 in response to Typhoon Haiyan, to Banda Aceh in 2004 in response to the Boxing Day tsunami and to Bali following the bombings in 2002 and 2005; and

8. Pays tribute to the courage and dedication of South Australian health professionals in so many diverse contexts.

Sometimes you dare not hope. On Saturday 23 June, a young soccer team and their coach went into a cave complex in Chiang Rai, Thailand, on a seemingly innocent adventure. They were trapped by rising water. A week later, hope was fading that they were safe and would come out alive. Nine days after they disappeared, the world was stunned to hear that they had been found safe and unharmed. However, then the reality set in: they were deep in the midst of an incredibly complex cave system that extends several kilometres into the mountainside. Heavy rainfall during the monsoon season made navigation and access difficult and threatened further tragedy.

The response was one of the largest, most complex and most daring cave rescues the world has ever seen. The world held its collective breath, waiting, hoping and praying for a positive outcome. There were many times when the Thai authorities and rescue teams—indeed, all onlookers, including myself—dared not hope. During the rescue, the danger of the highly complex and risky rescue operation was underscored by the tragic death of former Royal Thai Navy SEAL, Petty Officer 1^st Class Saman Kunan, who volunteered to assist with the rescue effort. This parliament expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family and to the Thai people. His selfless endeavour is an example to us all.

The challenges confronting authorities were significant. Recognising they needed support divers and additional rescue teams, the Thai authorities brought together an extensive international team from the European Union, the United States, China and Australia. Under the extraordinary leadership of the Thai authorities, we witnessed a remarkable example of regional and international cooperation. Seventeen days after they first entered the cave system, all the young boys and their coach were safely rescued. The ordeal was harrowing for all involved.

We recognise the skill, courage, resilience and personal sacrifice of everyone involved. We honour the courage and resilience of the coach and the boys themselves. We honour those who chose to go into the cave to rescue them. We honour the leadership of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs, who demonstrated outstanding leadership throughout the rescue operation, and celebrate their success in safely returning these children and their coach to their homes and loved ones.

The Australian contingent in the international team included 20 personnel: six Australian Federal Police divers; a Navy clearance diver; and support from the Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Federal Police, as well as from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its multidisciplinary health team, AUSMAT. Australia played an integral role, and the collective effort from those involved is something of which we can all be immensely proud.

I would like to congratulate everyone involved and acknowledge the nine members of that contingent who yesterday received Australian honours for their incredible efforts at a special thank you reception, hosted by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. Among those honoured were Adelaide-based anaesthetist and SA Ambulance Service MedSTAR doctor, Richard Harris, and his Perth-based dive partner, retired vet Dr Craig Challen. Both received the Star of Courage, the second highest civilian honour.

Dr Harris, or Harry, as he is affectionately known by his MedSTAR colleagues and now the world, has been internationally acknowledged for his integral role in the rescue operation. Internationally renowned for his expertise in cave rescues, Dr Harris was specifically identified by the British diving team as an expert whose skills would be critical to the mission, and he was asked for at the highest levels within the Thai government.

As well as being a member of AUSMAT, which is deployed within the Pacific to assist with responding to natural disasters, Dr Harris has also travelled overseas as part of a national aid program to developing countries. His rare combination of skills was critical in assisting the rescue team to assess the boys and the order in which they came out of the cave system and at what time.

South Australia has a proud tradition and a global reputation for answering the call to provide emergency assistance and work as part of cohesive international teams to respond to natural disasters and catastrophic events. In particular, our health professionals frequently serve as AUSMAT team members, with notable examples including deployment to the Philippines in 2013 in response to Typhoon Haiyan, to Banda Aceh in 2004 in response to the Boxing Day tsunami, and to Bali, following the bombings in both 2002 and 2005. It is what we do well. Tragically, we have had many opportunities to support our neighbours and friends in times of crisis.

This rescue is another example of the courage and dedication of South Australian health professionals in so many diverse contexts, and we pay tribute to them all. We can all be very proud of the contribution Australia's rescue team and, in particular, the efforts of our own Dr Harris, in assisting the Thai authorities and the international rescue team to bring about this amazing rescue. It is a remarkable story of human endeavour and achievement.

I wish the young boys and their coach a speedy recovery. I hope their adventurous spirit is not diminished by their experience, but in future I wish them less dramatic adventures.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. C.M. Scriven.