Thai cave rescue hero Erik Brown, who spent 63 hours inside Tham Luang cave, dies aged 44

From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026.

Erik Brown, the Canadian diver who played a key role in pulling 12 boys and their coach to safety from a flooded Thai cave in 2018, was 44 years old at the time of his death. Tributes have poured in describing him as "the brightest light" and "one of the kindest humans."

Across seven separate missions, Brown logged 63 hours inside the Tham Luang cave complex, hauling air tanks and keeping guide ropes in place through powerful currents and dangerously narrow passages.

Canada awarded Brown its Medal of Bravery, with the governor-general saying he "repeatedly put his life at risk" during the operation.

The 2018 rescue — in which each boy was given ketamine to sedate him before being guided out — captured global headlines and inspired books, films and a Netflix series.