FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has backed bestowing a bravery award on the Adelaide doctor who played a crucial role in the rescue of the young Thai soccer team from a submerged cave.

Mr Shorten said he wanted to congratulate Adelaide anaesthetist Richard “Harry” Harris and all the others who worked on the rescue.

“I’ve seen rescues in the past but this one seemed so complex and so difficult and so harrowing,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

“I think it is a miracle. It looked incredibly difficult.”

Dr Harris was considered essential to the rescue efforts in Thailand because of his unique skills as a medical retrieval expert and his 30 years cave-diving experience.

His efforts to help bring the 12 boys and their coach to safety was also marked by personal tragedy, with his father passing away just hours after the mission was completed.

Mr Shorten said the work of all the Australians involved meant he “couldn’t be prouder” to be an Australian.

“When you see Australians who are modest turn up in these most difficult situations around the world and they just do what they believe is the right thing,” he said.

“They should realise that not only have they given a gift to these boys and their families, they’ve given a gift to every other Australian.”