A British diver who helped save the Thai football team is saved from the Tennessee cave

April 18, 2019, 00:29 GMT / Update April 18, 2019, 01:04 GMT

By Alex Johnson

Emergency crews from northern Tennessee Wednesday safely found a British cave diver who was involved in the spectacular rescue of a Thai football team of young players last year.

A diver safely found Josh Bratchley in Mill Pond Cave near Gainesboro, Jackson County, about 65 km northeast of Nashville, authorities said. Bratchley – who was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire in December for his role in the Thai rescue last summer – was in great shape and refused any medical treatment, the office of the Sheriff of Jackson County.

Bratchley was with a small team of British divers who have been exploring the cave system for two or three days, said Ethan Burris, a spokesman for the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency.

The group called 911 shortly after midnight Tuesday when members noticed that Bratchley was not found after their last dive Tuesday afternoon, Burris said. Burris said the group members had been waiting to call 911 because they were looking for their colleague.

A trained diver was sent to the cave around 18 hours. Wednesday and found Bratchley about an hour later, announced the authorities.

Lt. Brian Krebs, rescue specialist in the caves of the Chattanooga County Hamilton Rescue Service – whose members were taken by the National Highway Patrol to help the rescue – said passage tightly.