Craig Challen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1965 or 1966 (age 59–60)[1] |
| Education | Murdoch University |
| Occupation | Veterinarian |
| Known for | Tham Luang cave rescue |
| Medical career | |
| Field | Veterinary medicine |
| Awards | |
Craig Challen is an Australiantechnical diver andcave explorer who played a substantial role in theTham Luang cave rescue. He was the recipient of the Oztek 2009 Diver of the Year award for his services to caving,[2][3] and was joint winner of the 2019Australian of the Year.[4]
He grew up in the Perth suburb ofThornlie and later on a 200 ha (500 acres) farming property inGidgegannup; he attendedEastern Hills Senior High School inMount Helena, near Gidgegannup.[5][6] Aveterinary surgeon by profession, Challen has made notable dives inCocklebiddy Cave andPearse Resurgence.[7] In 2010 he made a record-setting 194 m (636 ft) dive while caving in New Zealand.[8] In 2020 he made a second record-setting return visit to the Pearse Resurgence (New Zealand) and extended the Australasian depth record to 245 m (804 ft) with his dive partnerRichard Harris.[9]
In 2018 Challen, along with his dive partnerRichard Harris, was involved in acave rescue operation in Thailand to evacuate 12 children and an adult from the flooded Tham Luang Cave system.[10] On 24 July 2018, Challen was awarded theStar of Courage (SC) andMedal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by theGovernor-General of Australia for his role in the rescue.[11] On 7 September 2018 the King of Thailand appointed Challen as aKnight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.[12][13]
He is the joint-winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year award with fellow diver Richard Harris,[14] and 2019Western Australian of the Year.[4]
