María Luisa Carcedo awards Gold Cross of the Civil Order of Solidarity to Spanish diver who helped rescue a group of children in Thailand

"Solidarity honours democracy and, to that end, must be a guiding principle in the objective of social justice and the common good", said the Spanish minister during the award ceremony that was held at the ministerial department during a visit by Juan Fernando Raigal (from Ciudad Real) to Spain. The diver currently works in Thailand.

The Gold Cross for Social Solidarity "represents well-deserved personal recognition and a reminder of collective efforts that are incompatible with indifference to the suffering of others", said María Luisa Carcedo.

The decision to issue this award was approved on 13 July at a meeting of the Council of Ministers in recognition of the generosity and bravery of this Spanish citizen in risking his life to rescue the group of schoolchildren, who hails from the same city as the minister.

To save their lives, it was necessary to design and put into action a complicated and hazardous mission. Juan Fernando Raigal risked his own life to save those of the children trapped inside the cave.

The Civil Order of Social Solidarity is awarded to recognise those individuals or legal entities from Spain or overseas that distinguish themselves extraordinarily in the promotion or development of activities and services related to social action for the benefit of social well-being.

Non official translation