Heroic scuba diver who helped rescue Thai football team trapped in flooded cave dies aged 44
A heroic scuba diver who helped rescue a Thai football team who became trapped in a flooded cave for nine days has died aged 44.
Canadian Erik Brown and a team of professional divers captured the world’s imagination in 2018 when they carried out a daring mission to rescue a group of schoolchildren and their coach in the Tham Luang cave complex.
The successful rescue mission became an international sensation and has since inspired films, documentaries, a Netflix series and books.
For his part, Mr Brown helped transport air cylinders and equipment through the cave, installed and maintained guidelines and supported the chain of divers working through its flooded passages.
The specialist diver spent an astonishing 63 hours inside the cave across nine days and seven separate missions.
His contribution to the dramatic rescue efforts earned him Canada‘s Medal of Bravery – the nation’s third highest award for acts of bravery.
Friends and family announced Mr Brown’s death on September 26, although the exact date and cause of his death have not been confirmed.
Tributes have since poured in for the diver, with loved ones remembering him as the ‘brightest light’.
Canadian Erik Brown (pictured) who played a role in the rescue of schoolchildren trapped in Thai cave has died aged 44
Professional divers captured the world’s imagination in 2018 when they carried out a daring mission to rescue a group of schoolchildren and their coach in the Tham Luang cave complex in 2018
One friend wrote: ‘He was the brightest light, a dear friend, and one of the kindest humans I have ever met.
‘I was instantly drawn to him and loved him like a brother. As he moved abroad I loved watching him create his life in the farthest reaches of the planet… some of the deepest depths of the seas.
‘My heart is heavy for his family and close friends and I send my deepest condolences.’
Another person said: ‘I can’t quite believe you’re gone, so incredibly lucky to have known and loved you.‘
The operation was launched after 12 members of the Wild Boars football team, aged between 11 and 16, and their coach became trapped in the caves in northern Thailand after a sudden storm caused flooding which blocked the exit.
Mr Brown was joined by a British team of divers who also helped save the children.
Richard Stanton, Robert Harper and John Volanthen, global experts in exploring underground systems, were sent ‘because they are the best’ for the job.
Mr Brown was rewarded Canada’s Medal of Bravery – the nation’s third highest award for acts of bravery – for his part in the daring mission
Major Buncha Duriyapan, commander of the 37th Military District in Chiang Rai, said the three Brits got to work as soon as they landed.
Speaking at the time, he said: ‘The expert divers went straight from the plane into the cave to make an assessment.’
When asked about the mission, one of the divers, John Volanthen, simply told the BBC: ‘We’ve got a job to do.’
Mr Brown’s brother, Kirk, paid tribute to his sibling during the rescue efforts.
Speaking to Canadian media, he said: ‘He’s a remarkable kid – I get to say that because I’m his big brother. You can see he’s grown into a pretty remarkable man. I’m not surprised he was there.
‘I’m very proud of him, not just on how he handled himself during the rescue, but how he’s handled discussing it after. He’s just talked with pride about everybody he worked with, how they were a team.’
