Australian and British cave divers who played an essential role in rescuing a football team and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand are being awarded PADI’s first-ever ‘Medal of Valour’.
Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Dr Richard Harris, Jason Mallinson and Chris Jewell will be awarded medals. Their acts of bravery prompted PADI to create the medal to formally recognise ‘one of the greatest moments in dive history’.
Stanton and Mallinson will represent the group at the PADI Social during the DEMA Show 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Drew Richardson, PADI Worldwide President and CEO, said:
“It was an awe-inspiring example of humanity at its best, focused on a single noble purpose. This complex rescue operation demonstrated action and focus propelled by the unshakeable conviction that those boys would not die on diving’s watch.
“Rick Stanton, Jason Mallinson and everyone who was part of this effort faced and accepted the difficulties, dangers and risks inherent in the rescue. On behalf of the entire PADI family, it is an honour to recognise these heroes and extend our immense gratitude for representing diving’s finest hour.”
