Robert Harper, one of the caving experts involved in the Thai cave rescue mission, arrived at the Bangkok airport for his flight back to London on July 4.

The hero, together with two other Brits, managed to rescue the 12 kids and their football coach who had been stranded in a waterlogged cave in northern Thailand after a severe rainstorm.

In the video, Harper is greeted by Thai officials before boarding his Thai Aiways flight to London Heathrow. He is handed a certificate of appreciation and a caricature painting of him and fellow rescuers John Volanthen and Richard Stanton.

Hero cave rescuer Robert Harper catches a flight home from Bangkok to London last night after saving 12 kids and their football coach who were stranded in a Thai cave.

Robert was greeted by Thai officials before boarding Thai Airways flight TG910 at 1am local time with it due to land at London Heathrow at 7.15am today (Thu).

The superstar scuba diver looked exhausted as officials handed him a ''certificate of appreciation'' and a caricature painting of him and fellow Brits John Volanthen and Richard Stanton.

Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat is heard thanking Robert for his ''service to our society''. Robert then enjoyed fast track priority boarding before being ushered aboard a Thai Airways Airbus A380 for the 12 hour flight home.