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Is Duke's scheme really 'deadly'? | Is Duke's scheme really 'deadly'? |
(30 minutes later) | |
Aaron Goss died on an expedition in 2006 | Aaron Goss died on an expedition in 2006 |
It was the kind of gaffe one expects from the Duke of Edinburgh himself. | It was the kind of gaffe one expects from the Duke of Edinburgh himself. |
On a visit to Australia, Prince Edward suggested that part of the appeal of the award programme named after his father was the risk that "you could die doing this". | On a visit to Australia, Prince Edward suggested that part of the appeal of the award programme named after his father was the risk that "you could die doing this". |
His remark - in response to a question from the Australian newspaper about the death in 2006 of a 17-year-old from Sydney who was taking part in the programme - has been widely condemned. | His remark - in response to a question from the Australian newspaper about the death in 2006 of a 17-year-old from Sydney who was taking part in the programme - has been widely condemned. |
But what are the risks of taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, and is the possibility of death really part of its allure? | But what are the risks of taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, and is the possibility of death really part of its allure? |
The prince had told the newspaper that the reaction of many young people to the fatality in Australia was "Wow, this is serious" - although he added that "obviously" no-one wanted the worst to happen. | The prince had told the newspaper that the reaction of many young people to the fatality in Australia was "Wow, this is serious" - although he added that "obviously" no-one wanted the worst to happen. |
A spokeswoman for the scheme insisted it had an "exemplary" safety record, adding that 182,000 participants successfully take part in expeditions each year - with some four million young people in the UK having done so since 1956. | A spokeswoman for the scheme insisted it had an "exemplary" safety record, adding that 182,000 participants successfully take part in expeditions each year - with some four million young people in the UK having done so since 1956. |
She said that there was "no record of a death of a DofE participant in the UK as a direct result of their DofE expedition in over 40 years". | She said that there was "no record of a death of a DofE participant in the UK as a direct result of their DofE expedition in over 40 years". |
Participants can earn a gold award under the scheme by taking part in an expedition - which, according to the DofE website, could range from "sailing along the Norfolk Broads to walking in Canada or horse riding in the Brecon Beacons". | Participants can earn a gold award under the scheme by taking part in an expedition - which, according to the DofE website, could range from "sailing along the Norfolk Broads to walking in Canada or horse riding in the Brecon Beacons". |
But of course any outdoor activity involves some measure of risk - and there have been fatal incidents involving DofE candidates. | But of course any outdoor activity involves some measure of risk - and there have been fatal incidents involving DofE candidates. |
Prince Edward had been responding to a question about David Iredale, who died of severe dehydration in Australia's Blue Mountains after getting lost during a trek. | Prince Edward had been responding to a question about David Iredale, who died of severe dehydration in Australia's Blue Mountains after getting lost during a trek. |
In 2006 the body of Aaron Goss, 17, from Rushden, Northants, was found three days after he went missing while swimming in a river in the Tena region of Ecuador during an expedition. | In 2006 the body of Aaron Goss, 17, from Rushden, Northants, was found three days after he went missing while swimming in a river in the Tena region of Ecuador during an expedition. |
Aaron's father Geoff told the BBC that he believed Prince Edward was doing young people a disservice. | Aaron's father Geoff told the BBC that he believed Prince Edward was doing young people a disservice. |
"They're embarking on an adventure that's got its excitement and its thrills, but not at the expense of safety," Mr Goss added. | "They're embarking on an adventure that's got its excitement and its thrills, but not at the expense of safety," Mr Goss added. |
"Certainly, that young lad who died on it in Australia didn't embark on it for the risk of death - that was blatantly obvious." | "Certainly, that young lad who died on it in Australia didn't embark on it for the risk of death - that was blatantly obvious." |
The Duke of Edinburgh scheme insists it has an "exemplary" safety record | The Duke of Edinburgh scheme insists it has an "exemplary" safety record |
And indeed, the idea that the scheme regularly involves death-defying challenges is considered laughable by Colin Hayes, 54, of Havering, east London. | And indeed, the idea that the scheme regularly involves death-defying challenges is considered laughable by Colin Hayes, 54, of Havering, east London. |
He quit as an instructor on its expedition section because he believed it had become "sanitised" by a risk-averse culture. | He quit as an instructor on its expedition section because he believed it had become "sanitised" by a risk-averse culture. |
Whereas in the past, he says, young people on the scheme would be split into groups according to the abilities - with more capable participants taking on greater challenges - Mr Hayes believes all ability groups are increasingly clustered together. | Whereas in the past, he says, young people on the scheme would be split into groups according to the abilities - with more capable participants taking on greater challenges - Mr Hayes believes all ability groups are increasingly clustered together. |
"There are two reasons for this - firstly, concern over litigation; secondly, to enable high numbers to pass looks good on the books," he says. | "There are two reasons for this - firstly, concern over litigation; secondly, to enable high numbers to pass looks good on the books," he says. |
"Testing yourself by learning how to overcome challenges is hugely character-building. | "Testing yourself by learning how to overcome challenges is hugely character-building. |
"I think it's fair to say that Prince Edward is going a bit over the top." | "I think it's fair to say that Prince Edward is going a bit over the top." |