John Volanthen

John Volanthen is a British cave diver and IT consultant who is renowned for his expertise in cave rescue operations. He was born in Brighton, England, and developed an interest in diving from a young age. Volanthen's exceptional skills and dedication have made him a key figure in numerous high-profile cave rescue missions around the world.

Early Life and Career

John Volanthen was born and raised in Brighton, England. He developed an interest in scuba diving at a young age and later specialized in cave diving. Volanthen's professional career is in the field of IT consulting, but he has always maintained his passion for diving.

Cave Diving

Volanthen's interest in cave diving began when he was a teenager. He has since become one of the world's leading experts in the field. His expertise is often sought after in complex and dangerous cave rescue operations. He is a member of the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC), a body that coordinates cave rescue services in the UK.

Notable Rescues

One of Volanthen's most notable rescue operations was the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand. He, along with fellow British diver Richard Stanton, were the first to locate the 12 boys and their football coach who had been trapped in the cave for 9 days. The rescue operation, which lasted for 18 days, was successful and all 13 were safely extracted from the cave.

In 2010, Volanthen and Stanton were also involved in the attempted rescue of French cave diver Eric Establie who was trapped in the Aragonite Underwater Cave in France. Despite their best efforts, Establie could not be saved.

Awards and Recognition

For his heroic efforts in the Tham Luang cave rescue, Volanthen, along with Stanton, was awarded the George Medal, the second highest civilian gallantry award in the UK. They were also jointly named British GQ's "Men of the Year" in 2018.

Personal Life

Volanthen is a private individual and not much is known about his personal life. He continues to work as an IT consultant and remains active in the cave diving community.

See Also

• Cave Diving
• British Cave Rescue Council
• 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue

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