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Bear Grylls criticised for caving without a helmet in ITV show Bear Grylls criticised for caving without a helmet in ITV show
(about 3 hours later)
The adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls has been heavily criticised by a cave and mountain rescue team for showing “a total disregard for safety” in his latest ITV series.The adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls has been heavily criticised by a cave and mountain rescue team for showing “a total disregard for safety” in his latest ITV series.
In Britain’s Biggest Adventures with Bear Grylls, the presenter visits the Long Churn cave system in the Yorkshire Dales, the site of fatal accidents in recent years, without basic equipment such as a helmet. Related: Snowdonia’s dark side – the mega zip wire trip beneath north Wales
In Britain’s Biggest Adventures with Bear Grylls, the presenter visits the Long Churn cave system in the Yorkshire Dales, the site of fatal accidents in recent years, without basic equipment including a helmet.
Heather Eastwood, chair of the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), which provides rescue services in the Yorkshire Dales, has complained to ITV, accusing the show of “sensationalising” potentially dangerous activities.Heather Eastwood, chair of the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), which provides rescue services in the Yorkshire Dales, has complained to ITV, accusing the show of “sensationalising” potentially dangerous activities.
In her letter to ITV, published on the CRO’s website, Eastwood wrote: “As chair of the local rescue team both myself and many of my fellow team members were horrified to see Bear Grylls show a total disregard for safety in the outdoors especially in relation to water and caving.In her letter to ITV, published on the CRO’s website, Eastwood wrote: “As chair of the local rescue team both myself and many of my fellow team members were horrified to see Bear Grylls show a total disregard for safety in the outdoors especially in relation to water and caving.
“As for your portrayal of caving and cave exploration I am struggling to express my horror. Caving is a fantastic adventure and is both exciting and challenging especially for young people. However, it needs to be supervised and led by experienced and knowledgeable people who understand both the environmental and physical issues involved. “As for your portrayal of caving and cave exploration I am struggling to express my horror. Caving is a fantastic adventure and is both exciting and challenging, especially for young people. However, it needs to be supervised and led by experienced and knowledgeable people who understand both the environmental and physical issues involved.
“To depict caving as something that you can just turn up and do is both irresponsible and dangerous.”“To depict caving as something that you can just turn up and do is both irresponsible and dangerous.”
ITV and Grylls have been approached for comment.
During the show, the former SAS reservist back-flips into the water at Stainforth Force before going into the cave system with no protective suit or helmet after 24 hours of non-stop rain.During the show, the former SAS reservist back-flips into the water at Stainforth Force before going into the cave system with no protective suit or helmet after 24 hours of non-stop rain.
Long Churn cave is often used as a “beginners cave” but can prove dangerous in stormy weather when it fills with water. In 2007, engineer Caroline Fletcher, 28, and her colleague Stuart Goodwill, 33, died in the system after heavy rain turned an underground stream into a torrent. In 2008 two separate groups were trapped in the cave during storms, although no lives were lost. Long Churn cave is often used as a “beginners cave” but can be dangerous in stormy weather when it fills with water. In 2007 Caroline Fletcher, 28, an engineer, and her colleague, Stuart Goodwill, 33, died in the system after heavy rain turned an underground stream into a torrent. In 2008 two separate groups were trapped in the cave during storms, although no lives were lost.
Eastwood said: “The fact the he had no safety equipment in the form of appropriate clothing, a helmet and a reliable hands-free torch, which are a basic necessity in caving, was an elementary mistake.”Eastwood said: “The fact the he had no safety equipment in the form of appropriate clothing, a helmet and a reliable hands-free torch, which are a basic necessity in caving, was an elementary mistake.”
As head of the Scout Association, Grylls is an inspirational figure to young people, Eastwood added.As head of the Scout Association, Grylls is an inspirational figure to young people, Eastwood added.
In promotional material for the episode – the second in a three-part series – ITV described the underground system as “Britain’s biggest and most dangerous cave network”.In promotional material for the episode – the second in a three-part series – ITV described the underground system as “Britain’s biggest and most dangerous cave network”.
The programme starts by saying: “In this show Bear Grylls undertakes a range of extreme activities. He is a trained professional supported by an expert safety team. Do not attempt any of the dangerous activities in this show.”The programme starts by saying: “In this show Bear Grylls undertakes a range of extreme activities. He is a trained professional supported by an expert safety team. Do not attempt any of the dangerous activities in this show.”
The opening episode of the series, in which Grylls climbed, canoed and paraglided around Wales, delivered a relatively small prime-time audience of 1.5 million viewers.The opening episode of the series, in which Grylls climbed, canoed and paraglided around Wales, delivered a relatively small prime-time audience of 1.5 million viewers.
An ITV spokeswoman said: “We take our responsibilities to the viewer extremely seriously. Each episode of the series begins with a very clear notice to the viewer explicitly stating that Bear Grylls carries out a ‘range of extreme activities’, pointing out that he is a ‘trained professional, supported by an expert safety team’ and advising viewers not to ‘attempt to copy any of the dangerous activities in this show’.
“In the cave sequence Bear makes the dangers involved explicitly and repeatedly clear to the viewer, including citing the number of fatalities that have occurred and the particular dangers during flooding.”