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‘The Guardian lights very well’: how newspaper came to aid of stranded geologist ‘The Guardian lights very well’: how newspaper came to aid of stranded geologist
(32 minutes later)
When Bryn Austin, 71, lost his bearings on an unstable cliff his favourite paper kept him warm and helped start fire to alert rescuersWhen Bryn Austin, 71, lost his bearings on an unstable cliff his favourite paper kept him warm and helped start fire to alert rescuers
Bryn Austin always carries a copy of the Guardian when he goes looking for rocks, usually to wrap up muddy or delicate specimens. But on one ill-fated trip, he discovered a new application for his favourite newspaper.Bryn Austin always carries a copy of the Guardian when he goes looking for rocks, usually to wrap up muddy or delicate specimens. But on one ill-fated trip, he discovered a new application for his favourite newspaper.
The retired geologist, 71, had taken a walk to Fairlight Glen in East Sussex to study a landslide on the evening of 24 April. After a wrong turn, he became stranded in the dark on the face of a cliff prone to erosion.The retired geologist, 71, had taken a walk to Fairlight Glen in East Sussex to study a landslide on the evening of 24 April. After a wrong turn, he became stranded in the dark on the face of a cliff prone to erosion.
He was in an isolated area and had no battery on his mobile phone, but opted to wait for emergency services to arrive rather than risk clambering on unstable cliffs.He was in an isolated area and had no battery on his mobile phone, but opted to wait for emergency services to arrive rather than risk clambering on unstable cliffs.
The temperature was dropping, so, just like his beloved rocks, he wrapped himself in the newspaper to keep warm. “I put it over my legs, they were the coldest thing because I only had my overalls on,” he said. “If I didn’t have the Guardian, I would have been shivering.” The temperature was dropping, so, just like his beloved rocks, he wrapped himself in the newspaper to keep warm. “I put it over my legs; they were the coldest thing because I only had my overalls on,” he said. “If I didn’t have the Guardian, I would have been shivering.”
Safely ensconced in his paper carapace, Austin dozed off until hearing the sounds of a search and rescue helicopter, sent by the police after the concerned relatives he was staying with called when he failed to arrive back in time for dinner.Safely ensconced in his paper carapace, Austin dozed off until hearing the sounds of a search and rescue helicopter, sent by the police after the concerned relatives he was staying with called when he failed to arrive back in time for dinner.
Austin fashioned a taper from his Guardian and used his lighter to create a small fire from some cardboard and dead gorse, which he hoped would help the helicopter find him using thermal imaging technology alongside flashing his torch at light-coloured rocks. “I know from experience that the Guardian lights fires very well,” he noted.Austin fashioned a taper from his Guardian and used his lighter to create a small fire from some cardboard and dead gorse, which he hoped would help the helicopter find him using thermal imaging technology alongside flashing his torch at light-coloured rocks. “I know from experience that the Guardian lights fires very well,” he noted.
When not using the newspaper to light fires, wrap up rocks and sit on wet ground, he describes himself as an “avid reader” of the Guardian. His favourite sections include letters and opinion, which “give you different perspectives and arguments that I find easier to read than longer articles”, he said.When not using the newspaper to light fires, wrap up rocks and sit on wet ground, he describes himself as an “avid reader” of the Guardian. His favourite sections include letters and opinion, which “give you different perspectives and arguments that I find easier to read than longer articles”, he said.
He noted that he could have used his torch to read the newspaper on the night in question but had not been in the mood.He noted that he could have used his torch to read the newspaper on the night in question but had not been in the mood.
Austin, who lives in Norfolk, found himself in trouble after taking a steep route down towards the beach and losing his bearings on his return after the changing tide rendered parts of his path unrecognisable. He realised he was in an unstable area with a risk of landslides, and worrying about his legs, which he has broken several times, found a stable position in which to await rescue.Austin, who lives in Norfolk, found himself in trouble after taking a steep route down towards the beach and losing his bearings on his return after the changing tide rendered parts of his path unrecognisable. He realised he was in an unstable area with a risk of landslides, and worrying about his legs, which he has broken several times, found a stable position in which to await rescue.
Sussex police said they were called shortly after 10pm and responded by deploying a drone. Due to the scale of the search region, the National Police Air Service helicopter was requested for back up. They were able to direct a search team on foot to the cliffs above Austin, but his position was inaccessible. Sussex police said they were called shortly after 10pm and responded by deploying a drone. Due to the scale of the search region, the National Police Air Service helicopter was requested for backup. They were able to direct a search team on foot to the cliffs above Austin, but his position was inaccessible.
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The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd was then deployed, assisted by lifeboats, and Austin was winched to safety.The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd was then deployed, assisted by lifeboats, and Austin was winched to safety.
Ch Insp Sarah Whitworth, of the National Police Air Service, said: “This is a great example of how we work together, in the air and on the ground, to save lives. Using their thermal imaging camera, night-vision goggles and powerful onboard spotlight, our crew from the National Police Air Service was able to find Bryn in a location that was inaccessible to ground patrols.Ch Insp Sarah Whitworth, of the National Police Air Service, said: “This is a great example of how we work together, in the air and on the ground, to save lives. Using their thermal imaging camera, night-vision goggles and powerful onboard spotlight, our crew from the National Police Air Service was able to find Bryn in a location that was inaccessible to ground patrols.
“It is always a great feeling for our crews knowing that they are able to support colleagues on the ground in bringing people to safety, as quickly as possible.”“It is always a great feeling for our crews knowing that they are able to support colleagues on the ground in bringing people to safety, as quickly as possible.”