He is the type of guy who will give of his all.“He was actually meant to be on holiday and gave up his holiday so that he could be part of this.”Chiang rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn also praised Dr Harris’ efforts overnight.“(The Australians) have been a big help, especially the doctor,” Mr Osotthanakorn told “His bedside manner when he was there with the kids and that, talking to them, calming them down and stuff like that.“So yeah, he was the, the linchpin of the operation.” Divers involved in the rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave have revealed extraordinary details of the dangerous operation. Unsung Hero Dr Richard Harris, cave diving expert, managed the whole Thai Cave Rescue. This undated photo from video released via the Thai NavySEAL Facebook Page on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, shows rescuers hold an evacuated boy inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand. Picture: FacebookNow there are calls from hundreds of Australians on social media for the expert medic and cave diver to be handed the Australian of the Year award for his heroics in the incredible rescue mission.“If ever a bloke deserved to be Australian of the Year it’s this man,” wrote one commenter on Twitter. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. Picture: OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRSDr Richard Harris was one of the last to leave the cave overnight. “The probability of success was about as low as you can get,” U.S. Mission Commander Major Charles Hodges said.“I was fully expecting that we would accept casualties. So that’s why we had to be very slow and careful about not banging them against rocks.”Instead, Mallinson said he extended his head above the boy’s so that his head hit the rocks instead.“The visibility was that bad, you couldn’t see the rock until you actually hit it,” he said. All market data delayed 20 minutes. All market data delayed 20 minutes. Picture: OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRSSpeaking on Wednesday from Chang Rai, close to the caves, Commander Glenn McEwan of the Australian Defence Force praised Dr Harris and said he had been “quintessential in achieving success in this operation”.The 53-year-old gave up a family holiday and made his way to Northern Thailand, where he scuba dived 4km through cold, dark and narrow passages to reach the boys and assessed them as medically fit to attempt the risky escape mission.Using his 30 years of experience, the South Australian assessed which of them should be saved first and checked up on their physical conditions as they were escorted through the cave’s perilous network to safety.As each of the boys swam out one-by-one, he was there to give them a medical sign-off and he only left once everybody was out safely.The team of doctors Dr. Harris worked with plus 2 DFAT officers taken after they completed the mission. Richard Harris (right) and his dive partner Craig Challen, taken after they completed the mission. Thailand: All 12 soccer players and their coach are out of the cave after 17-day race against deteriorating weather.Divers involved in the rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave have revealed extraordinary details of the dangerous operation.A team of more than 150 worked together to free the group from Tham Luang cave, a 6-mile limestone cave system, in an operation that scared even the most seasoned professionals.New details of the rescue were revealed Monday night on “It’s one of the most difficult and dangerous and risky things I’ve ever done, not in terms of my own personal safety, but in terms of the people I was responsible for,” British cave diver Jason Mallinson told the reporter.“I’ve never done anything as risky as that and I don’t think I ever will again. Earlier divers had rehearsed the rescue in a local pool, practicing the maneuvers with volunteer children and assessing whether the risky operation was feasible.“I was confident of getting myself out, I was confident of not losing control of the line, I was confident of getting the kid out [but] I wasn’t a 100 percent confident of getting him out alive,” Mallinson said.At some points the children had their scuba gear taken off and were taken in stretchers across some areas. Thai cave rescue became adventure of a lifetime for divers. The journey was broken up into nine sections and expert British divers were responsible for bringing them through the most complicated spots, using guide lines to help them navigate the passageways.“We’d submerge with the kid. Picture: SuppliedThe heartbreaking mission is just one of many over Dr Harris’ illustrious career, which have propelled him to become one of the most sought-after professionals in the field.He’s been described as “essential” to the rescue bid to save the trapped Thai schoolboys because of his unique skills and experience.“He’s an interesting character,” MedSTAR clinical director Andrew Pearce told reporters on Monday as the rescue efforts in Thailand continued.“Harry is selfless. (Thailand's Ministry of Health and the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital via AP)(Thailand's Ministry of Health and the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital via AP) The rescue was so dangerous the Australian Government negotiated immunity from Thai authorities for any Australians involved in the sedation of the children in case anything went wrong.Expert cave divers Craig Challen and Richard “Harry” Harris have been hailed as Australian heroes for their pivotal roles in rescuing the Thai football team. Cave divers Richard Harris, left, and Craig Challen. He said it was the decision of the boys, coach and Thai Navy SEALs who were with them. Thank you DR Richard Harris for your exceptional skills and talents,and rescuing the Children and their coach. He gives medical sign off before each boy swims and dives out only leaves the cave AFTER the day’s operation has been completed. He is extremely thoughtful. The rescued soccer team members pose with a sketch of the Thai Navy SEAL diver who died while trying to rescue them.