Craig Challen
Australian veterinary surgeon and technical diver
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Craig Jonathan Challen SC, OAM, PBh (GCT) (born 1965) is an Australian cave diver and retired veterinary surgeon who played a substantial role in the Tham Luang cave rescue. He was the recipient of the Oztek 2009 Diver of the Year award for his services to caving,[3][4] and was joint winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year with his long-time dive partner Richard Harris.[5]
1965 (age 60–61)[1]: 23
- Veterinarian
- Businessman
Craig Challen | |
|---|---|
Challen in 2018 | |
| Born | Craig Jonathan Challen 1965 (age 60–61)[1]: 23 |
| Education | Murdoch University |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | Tham Luang cave rescue |
| Partner | Heather Endall[2] |
| Medical career | |
| Field | Veterinary medicine |
| Awards | |
Early life and career
Challen grew up in the Perth suburb of Thornlie and later on a 200 ha (500 acres) farming property in Gidgegannup; he attended Eastern Hills Senior High School in Mount Helena, near Gidgegannup.[6][7]
Challen graduated from Murdoch University in 1987 with a degree in veterinary science. He co-founded Vetwest animal hospitals in Perth. Challen retired as a veterinarian in 2017.[8]
Cave diving
Challen learned to cave dive in 1997.[1]: 28 He has made notable dives in Cocklebiddy Cave, Australia, Pearse Resurgence, New Zealand, and Boesmansgat, South Africa.[9] In 2010 he made a record-setting 194 m (636 ft) dive while caving in New Zealand.[10] In 2020 he made a second record-setting return visit to the Pearse Resurgence and extended the Australasian depth record to 245 m (804 ft) with Richard Harris.[11] In 2023, Challen supported Harris' experimental use of hydrogen as a rebreather diluent gas while diving to 230 metres (750 ft).[12] In 2024, Challen and Harris dived to 272 metres (892 ft) at Boesmansgat while utilizing hydrogen.[13][a]
In 2011, Challen and Harris recovered the body of their friend Agnes Milowka from Tank Cave in South Australia.[1]: 44
Tham Luang cave rescue
In 2018 Challen, along with Harris, was involved in a cave rescue operation in Thailand to evacuate 12 children and their assistant coach from the flooded Tham Luang Cave system.[14] Challen performed medical assessments and administered additional ketamine after the boys and coach had been dived through a flooded section of the cave.[1]: 216–218 Challen and Harris co-authored Against All Odds which details their accounts of the rescue.[1]
Awards
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 Thai cave rescue.[15] 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.[16][17] Challen received an honorary degree from Murdoch University, his alma mater.[8]
Challen is the joint-winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year award with Richard Harris,[18] and 2019 Western Australian of the Year.[5]
Personal life
See also
- Deep diving – underwater diving to a depth beyond the norm
Notes
- Harris also conducted a dive to 284 metres (932 ft).