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Expat Vern Unsworth, 63, who is suing Tesla entrepreneur Elon Musk for labelling him a “pedo guy”, has been made an MBE. Richard Stanton and John Volanten, who were the first divers to reach the children, have been awarded the George Medal, the highest civilian gallantry award, announced alongside the New Year Honours list. Joshua Bratchley and Lance Corporal Connor Roe, 26, were also made MBEs, while Christopher Jewell and Jason Mallinson have been given the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for exemplary acts of bravery. Reacting to the announcement, Mr Unsworth said: “This was a team effort and I’m very honoured to have been recognised, particularly as you don’t engage in a major rescue expecting this outcome.

(Image: GETTY)

“For me, after saving the boys, this is the icing on the cake.” The Brit divers answered a call by Thai authorities to join the vast search after the group disappeared in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in Chaing Rai province on June 23. All 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, were rescued from the cave which had filled up with monsoon rain. The joy that greeted the emergence of the last of the team on July 10 rippled around the world but amid the celebrations a bizarre and unedifying row was brewing.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: WORANAN RATRAWIPHUKKUN/FACEBOOK)

A spat ensued between Mr Musk and Mr Unworth, a driver who had claimed the SpaceX founder’s offers to help the children with a “tiny, kid-sized submarine” were just a “PR stunt”.Mr Unworth, originally from St Albans but now living in Thailand, had experience of the caves where the boys had become trapped. The billionaire took exception to Mr Unsworth’s suggestion he could “stick his submarine where it hurts” and said, in a tweet deleted a short time later, “sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it”. Mr Musk apologised but then repeated the jibe and Mr Unsworth is suing him in a US court.