Craig Challen
Craig Challen , OAM | |
|---|---|
 Challen (left) with Richard Harris | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Murdoch University |
| Occupation | Veterinarian |
| Known for | Tham Luang cave rescue |
| Medical career | |
| Field | Veterinary medicine |
| Awards | |
Craig Challen, , OAM is an Australian technical diver and cave explorer. He was the recipient of the Oztek 2009 Diver of the Year award for his services to caving,[1][2] and was joint winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year.[3]
He grew up in the Perth suburb of Thornlie and later on a 200-hectare (500-acre) farming property in Gidgegannup; he attended Eastern Hills Senior High School in Mount Helena, near Gidgegannup.[4][5] A veterinary surgeon by profession, Challen has made notable dives in Cocklebiddy Cave and Pearse Resurgence.[6] In 2010 he made a record-setting 194-metre (636 ft) dive while caving in New Zealand.[7] In 2020 he made a second record-setting return visit to the Pearse Resurgence (New Zealand) and extended the Australasian depth record to 245-metre (804 ft) with his dive partner Richard Harris.[8]
Career
In 2018 Challen, along with his dive partner Richard Harris was involved in a cave rescue operation in Thailand to evacuate 12 children and an adult from the flooded Tham Luang Cave system.[9] On 24 July 2018, Challen was awarded the Star of Courage (SC) and Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by the Governor-General of Australia for his role in the rescue.[10] On 7 September 2018 the King of Thailand appointed Challen as a Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.[11][12]
Awards
He is the joint-winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year award with fellow diver Richard Harris,[13] and 2019 Western Australian of the Year.[3]
See also
- Agnes Milowka – Australian cave diver, on Challen's line in Cocklebiddy Cave
References
- ^ http://tecrec.wordpress.com/2010/11/page/2/
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Thai cave hero wins top WA honour". The West Australian. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Fleming, Katherine (25 January 2019). "Humble hero". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Australian of the Year". Helena College. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ http://www.cavediving.net.au/index.php/divers/96-craig-challen
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Pearse Resurgence 2020". Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/thai-cave-rescue-julie-bishop-hints-at-formal-recognition-for-richard-harris-australian-team/news-story/901aabec9626e71ac18cab1c3d357e5e
- ^ "Australian Honours" (PDF). Government Notices Gazette. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. 24 July 2018. ISSN 0819-7105. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "His Majesty honours 188 for role in cave rescue operation". The Nation. Thailand. 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Cave boys claim life remains the same. His Majesty to confer about 200 decorations" (in Thai). Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ Zhou, Naaman (25 January 2019). "Australian of the year 2019: Thai cave rescue divers win rare joint award". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
External links
- National Geographic, "Record Cave Dive Leaves Mystery", published 3 May 2011.
- Wet Mules homepage.
