Doctor Craig Challen has been named as the Western Australian of the Year for his heroic efforts in this year's Thai cave rescue.
Mr Challen was given the honour at an awards ceremony at WA's Government House in Perth last night.
"I'm still wondering if I'm really worth it for doing just what we normally do," he said.
![Perth vet Craig Challen (left) has been named the Western Australian of the Year for his heroic efforts during the Thai cave rescue.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/hMtW4DSiQG_PaInym0xCzANQeGs=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F10%2F31%2F17%2F54%2F181031-Craig-Challen-Thai-Cave-Rescue.jpg)
The Perth vet was part of the team who rescued 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped, four kilometres down a cave in Thailand.
"It was completely unprecedented, this had never been done before," he said.
"There was only ever two cave rescues done and they were nowhere near the scale.
![Dr Challen, along with fellow diver Dr Richard Harris, helped safely remove 12 young boys and their soccer coach from a a cave four kilometres underground.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/VYoynwmOjkOFoE9CVHgKDz0yw2s=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F15%2Fthailandboyshospital5.jpg)
"This is a oncer hopefully."
Fellow diver Doctor Richard Harris is also nominated for the award in South Australia.
Frank Mallard was named WA Senior Australian of the Year for his work with indigenous Australians and the defence force veterans.
![He said the rescue effort was completely unprecedented, but he still wonders if he's worth the award because they were 'doing just what we normally do'.](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/uXlWdxLrFOyyPzTDr319tPxdVUc=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F07%2F12%2F09%2F40%2F120718_wetmules_sp1.jpg)
Noelle Martin, 24, was awarded the WA Young Australian of the Year.
And the WA Local Hero award was given to Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker.