Richard Stanton MBE - September Winner
Richard has been honoured with the Good Citizen Award for his constant selfless acts of courage.
Richard Stanton served with the West Midlands Fire Service based in Canley for 25 years. As a member of the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, he and his diving partner, John Volanthen, were called to help rescue the youth football team and their coach trapped in the Tham Luang caves in Thailand in July 2018. The team of divers risked their lives in rescuing the boys who had been trapped for nine days before being found by Mr Stanton and Mr Volanthen. It has been reported to be the most challenging underground rescue in history, with more than 90 Special Forces Soldiers originally drafted in to help.
Richard has been described as "one of the world's most accomplished cave-divers" and in 2004 he was involved in the rescue of six British cavers who were trapped for 8 days in a cave at the Mexican Alpazat caverns. Richard is truly an outstanding Citizen of Coventry and is truly deserving of this Good Citizen Award.