We’ve got to give props to the brave team of expert divers who rescued those 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.

Now we can be extra chuffed knowing that one of those divers is a South African.

And no, it wasn’t Elon Musk with his mini-submarine.

Leandro Nicolas Gerardo (pictured above), an advanced diver, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but then raised in Pinetown, Durban.

Educated at Pinetown Boys High School, and now currently living in Bangkok, Gerardo had heard about the 13 people trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the Chiang Rai province.

Take it away, GoodThingsGuy:

[Gerardo], who currently lives in Bangkok, heard about the ordeal and immediately took time off work to fly over to volunteer as a rescue diver.

The advanced diver [pictured in the back row in a Bangkok top] and his team were in charge of chamber 3, a section which was 2,5 km deep into the cave with extremely dangerous caverns. The team had to pass oxygen bottles and the stretchers with the boys on and help get it to the next section safely.

The rescue operation was carried over three days, and it saw Gerardo and his fellow team members toiling hard to guide the kids and their coach out.

Gerardo’s old Durban schoolmate Dwayne Saunders shared a touching post on Facebook to thank him, the divers, and the volunteers for their efforts:

This was followed up by a sweet FB message from Gerardo’s sister, Lucia Gerardo-Schefermann:

PROUD is an understatement! My brother is an absolute legend. Well done to Leandro and every person involved in that intense rescue operation.

In the words of Jack – “Uncle Leo is so brave, like a superhero”

We love you champ!

This prompted users to pour in their thanks and congratulations to the hero of the hour:

Fantastic work, indeed, from Gerardo and all the people who were involved in the operation.

Here’s to a stress-free dive next time, buddy.

[source:goodthingsguy]