Craig Challen
Australian veterinary surgeon and technical diver / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Craig Challen, SC OAM (Gen) is an Australian technical diver and cave explorer 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,[2][3] and was joint winner of the 2019 Australian of the Year.[4]
Craig Challen SC OAM (Gen) | |
---|---|
Born | 1965 or 1966 (age 57–58)[1] |
Nationality | Australian |
Education | Murdoch University |
Occupation | Veterinarian |
Known for | Tham Luang cave rescue |
Medical career | |
Field | Veterinary medicine |
Awards |
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He 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.[5][6] A veterinary surgeon by profession, Challen has made notable dives in Cocklebiddy Cave and Pearse 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 partner Richard Harris.[9]