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Navy diver decorated
A formerly Hong Kong-based Royal Navy sailor will collect a Queen's Gallantry Medal from Buckingham Palace in London tomorrow (Tuesday) for his underwater search for a 15-year-old boy in an inverted and unstable hull of a junk in Victoria Harbour nearly two years ago.
The incident occurred on July 15, 1993 when Leading Radio Operator (LRO) Nigel Griffiths was undertaking continuation training as a part-time ship's diver with the naval Clearance Diving Unit at HMS Tamar on Stonecutters Island.
The Unit was alerted that the boy, Cheng Kin- shing, was trapped inside the hull of the upturned junk 'Ying Kee 3'.
dive.
Within 14 minutes of the call, the diving unit was on the scene and ready to
Although only a ship's diver, and consequently not formally trained for this type of contingency, LRO Griffiths had no hesitation in volunteering to dive inside the junk.
In all be entered the unfamiliar wheelhouse and compartments of the stricken vessel a total of six times during the course of two half-hour dives.
Each entry became progressively more dangerous as the junk settled in the harbour's choppy waters and more debris was dislodged inside the hull, reducing the already limited visibility in the oily water to less than a foot.
This did not deter LRO Griffiths who persisted in his search having heard tapping from inside the hull. He eventually left the water, under orders, immediately prior to the boat sinking.
LRO Griffith's selfless bravery was recognised by the award of a Queen's Gallantry Medal in November last year.
LRO Griffiths, now 31, served in the British Forces headquarters from January 1992 to August 1994 during which time he was accepted as a potential officer candidate.
Since leaving Hong Kong he has successfully completed a communications yeomans course in Britain, and gained three academic examination passes towards those he needs for an officer's commission.
End/Monday, March 20, 1995
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