My Favourite Hero

Essay Writing Competition 2024
Category: 8 - 11 years
- Commendation -

Junior category: Commendation

My Favourite Hero Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris - Essay by Angus Lansdown

My Favourite Hero
Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris

Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. When the boys in my class were asked to give a presentation on a hero, they immediately thought of these international sporting stars. While I’m obsessed with sport and worship my favourite players and teams too, my speech was about someone quite different.

His name is Dr Richard Harris and, not only is he a true hero in my eyes, he’s also someone who makes me proud to be Australian.

Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris is the anaesthetist and cave diver who became famous when 13 boys from a football team were trapped by water in an underground cave network in Thailand during 2018. They were facing certain death and Harry was the only person on the planet with the skills needed to save them.

The plan Harry formulated involved putting each boy under an anaesthetic using the drug ketamine so they wouldn’t endanger the lives of their rescuers during the perilous six-hour journey through the flooded cave network. The risks of anaesthetising the boys in this environment were massive and they didn’t even have ideal equipment to work with. Somehow defying all odds, over the course of four days, and with the whole world watching on, each boy was brought to safety.

Harry epitomises my idea of an Australian and a hero because he didn’t turn his back on the boys in the cave even though they weren’t from his family or country. He was courageous and willing to take risks to try something that had never been attempted before. He didn’t let fear or traditional ideas get in his way. He knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he worked in partnership with his great mate Craig Challen, and other expert divers from around the world to execute his plan.

Harry was incredibly humble. He didn’t undertake the rescue for recognition or fame. He put his professional reputation on the line by getting involved and, when he achieved what seemed impossible, he never acted like a star.

Since the rescue, Harry has received many awards for his efforts. The Australian government awarded him with the Star of Courage, the Medal of the Order of Australia and Australian of The Year in 2019.

Harry acted with incredible intelligence, kindness, bravery, teamwork and humility and he is a hero and community leader we can all look up to.

At school, we focus on many of these same values, and I hope that if I was ever faced with a situation like this one, I would also respond in a way that makes my friends, family and country proud.

To me, Harry proves that not all heroes wear capes or basketball shoes, and that Australians are lucky to be able to make important contributions in the world.

In the Age category 8 - 11 years, Angus' inspiring essay is commended. Congratulations on your essay, Angus! What an awesome and inspirational hero you have chosen to tell us all about! This story about the medical doctor's creativity, courage and persistence has to be shared and shared again! Well done!

Angus attends Shore Preparatory School Sydney, Australia. English as home language.