Latest news with #climbing
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
William and Harry's former private secretary: 'Protect our courageous SAS soldiers or we will lose them forever'
Last summer I went back to Hereford for the funeral of a friend from 30 years ago. He had died climbing, which is what he loved most, apart from his family, his friends and his country. Other than a mesmerising twinkle in the eye and dark good looks, he didn't stand out as anything special on a crowded street. For he was a humble man: Kind, selfless and quietly confident. He had a drive within him to help others, particularly the vulnerable, the picked-upon and those living in fear of their lives. Normal traits, in fact, for a soldier of the Special Air Service. So much has been written about the SAS, so many films made, so many reality-TV botch-ups of our actions and even our selection processes. Apart from one or two post-war accounts written by early veterans, I recognise none of the recent fictional stereotypes in my friend the climber or anyone else I came across in my eight years in the regiment. At the wake after the funeral in Hereford, the regiment's home, I was buttonholed by George Simm, my Squadron Sergeant Major, Regimental Sergeant Major and benevolent scourge. Almost all the old friends I met with him were being persecuted for their brave actions in Northern Ireland many decades ago. They were phlegmatic, facing the storm as they've faced it before, but their courage could not conceal the sense of betrayal they felt. I left angry. It is an abhorrent injustice. Though bound by the SAS strict code of discretion, I can at least use the four unchanging principles of our founder David Stirling to tell you the reality of what I saw during my time. First, the principle that seemed so effortless to everyone but me (though I hope others may have felt the same): 'The unrelenting pursuit of excellence.' I have never known – nor will I again – such consummate professionalism as in the SAS. Within its ranks are some of the finest soldiers in the world, jacks-of-all-trades who have proved they can meet any threat – except perhaps the one they now face from lawfare, the threat from within. Next came 'the highest standards of self-discipline'. Physical and organisational, but especially moral. An oft-quoted line is that we would never transgress morally on operations because to do so would be to lower ourselves to the base level of our enemies, blowing our credibility and decimating our ability to achieve our mission. While this may be true, it is secondary. What guides SAS soldiers is the urge to do right by the innocent folk we have been sent to protect – as in Northern Ireland, where the SAS arrested more terrorists than they ever killed – and to do right in the eyes of our comrades and the British people. That might sound overly idealistic, pompous even, but it is how many of us felt. Some of us in the regiment did not even vote in general elections. This was not idleness and certainly not some petulant statement. It was because we had implicit faith in our system of parliamentary democracy, and in what Britain stood for in the world. To have voted would, in some way, have compromised that. We were there to do the will of the Government – any government – and not take party-political sides. That, of course, was when we believed the Government had our backs. Stirling insisted upon 'a classless but not a rank-less society', based on pure merit and no social preferment. We all did the same selection – officers and men – which meant that we had complete faith in one another. To reap the benefits of an egalitarian structure such as the SAS, as with any other successful human enterprise, still requires leadership and a rank structure. But, as a commander in the regiment, what I learnt very early on was that I was not always the leader. To have had me telling the climber what to do on a cliff-face would have been, literally, sheer lunacy. He was the leader then... and so on. Finally, Stirling recognised that hubris was the surest route to ruin. So, his quartet closes with a call for 'humility and humour'. Recognising that success in the past does not guarantee success for the future is often the most difficult of the principles to obey. But it is perhaps the most critical. The urgency with which SAS soldiers fought the temptation to be complacent and strove to remain ahead of our country's enemies simply astounded me. It still does. While an unforgivable conceit, I am going to add a fifth principle: 'Decency'. Three of my children have SAS god-fathers. They weren't picked for their extraordinary skills – hardly transferable – but because the moral compass of each is welded at true north. Enough said. It seems to me that the British have a decision to make. Either we move to protect our SAS soldiers – as they have protected us – or we do nothing and lose the SAS. In capability and character, this is a strategic asset that no other country has and which – any day now – the British people might sorely need. This is why I wholeheartedly support the Daily Mail's campaign to protect our veterans.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Drama on Huascaran: One Dead, Rescue Underway For 2nd
On June 23, two female Japanese mountaineers, Saki Terada, 36, and Chiaki Inada, 40, became stranded on 6,757m Nevado Huascaran, Peru's highest peak. One of them is now confirmed dead. The two veteran climbers arrived in Peru in early June and spent two weeks acclimatizing. They then started climbing Huascaran and likely summited earlier this week. The weather has been challenging on Huascaran, with poor visibility above 6,000m. Terada and Inada became lost in the fog in the huge area just below the summit. They could not find their high camp and had to bivouac at around 6,500m, according to Latina Noticias. There, health problems set in. One of the climbers went snowblind because of cerebral edema, and in nighttime temperatures as low as -30°C, hypothermia also affected them. Inada was in particularly poor condition. Terada and Inada sent a distress call via their InReach device on June 24, after spending two nights outside. Deep snow and poor visibility continued to complicate the situation. The climbers had cell service on the mountain and also asked for local rescue. Peru's National Police mobilized specialized rescue teams. A helicopter made three rescue sorties, but continuing poor weather didn't allow it to reach the two climbers. So from an altitude of 4,800m, rescuers started to move up on foot toward them, according to the TV station, Latina Noticias. On June 25, both climbers were located, thanks to their InReach device. Unfortunately, by then, Inada had succumbed to hypothermia and was confirmed dead at the scene. Rescuers are currently bringing Terada down the mountain. Terada and Inada are experienced mountaineers, and Inada also served as an expedition doctor. Terada was a member of the Himalayan Camp, a Japanese mountaineering group known for organizing high-altitude expeditions. In 2023, she participated in the Sharpu VI expedition in Nepal.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Climber died in 'terrible accident' on Malaga holiday with father
A climber who fell 20 metres to his death was on holiday with his father at the time of the "terrible accident", an inquest has heard. Zachary Cook, 22, from Winterbourne near Bristol, was climbing a route during a trip to Malaga in Spain when he died on 11 December suffered fatal injuries in the fall, which happened after he unclipped both of his safety clips from a safety wire, Avon Coroner's Court heard on Monday. Area coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said a post-mortem examination was conducted in Spain and gave Mr Cook's cause of death as poly (severe) trauma resulting from the fall. Coroner's officer Alexis Camp told the hearing in a written statement that the pair were climbing a route that "required them to have two safety clips on their person and on the safety wires on the rock face".He added: "Prior to the start of the climb, they were informed to only unclip one of the safety clips from the safety wire at any one time and never to unclip both safety clips at the same time."Around halfway through the route, Zachary unclipped both of his safety clips from the safety wire, which resulted in him falling around 20 metres below." 'Terrible accident' The court heard that a group of medics were in the vicinity and went to Mr Cook's aid but he died later at the Harrowing said: "The family have no concerns surrounding any of the treatment or care received by Zachary from any of the medical professionals involved."They believe this was a terrible accident and nothing more could have been done."He recorded a conclusion of misadventure, adding: "He fell around 20 metres while climbing causing him to suffer traumatic injuries."The conclusion as to the death based on the evidence will be recorded as misadventure."The family [are] not in attendance today but I nonetheless send my most sincerest condolences to the family and all the friends of Zachary at this time."
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Climber died after 20-metre fall on holiday with father
A climber died after falling 20 metres to his death while on holiday with his father in Spain, an inquest has heard. Zachary Cook, 22, was climbing a route with his father, Jonathan, in Malaga when he fell 20 metres and suffered fatal injuries. Avon Coroner's Court heard the video games programmer, from Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, was on a climbing holiday when he died on Dec 11 last year. Alexis Camp, the coroner's officer, told the hearing in a written statement: 'They were climbing a route that required them to have two safety clips on their person and on the safety wires on the rock face. 'Prior to the start of the climb, they were informed to only unclip one of the safety clips from the safety wire at any one time and never to unclip both safety clips at the same time. 'Around halfway through the route, Zachary unclipped both of his safety clips from the safety wire, which resulted in him falling around 20 metres below.' The court heard that a group of medics were in the vicinity and went to Cook's aid but he died later at the scene. Dr Peter Harrowing, the area coroner, said a post-mortem examination was conducted in Spain and gave Cook's cause of death as poly-trauma resulting from the fall. Mr Harrowing, who recorded a conclusion of misadventure, said: 'The family have no concerns surrounding any of the treatment or care received by Zachary from any of the medical professionals involved. 'They believe this was a terrible accident and nothing more could have been done.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'One final push' for Stroud climbing gym project
The team behind a plan to build a community-owned climbing centre have almost reached their fundraising project, named Climbing Commons, aims to built a non-profit climbing gym which is accessible, affordable and inclusive in Brimscombe Mill, raised will cover the cost of construction materials, safety matting, climbing holds and the first year of rent, the team say. Chikara Shimasaki, programme coordinator for Stroud Commons, said: "We're creating a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, support each other, and have fun." The project was launched after more than 600 residents called for a climbing wall in the space has been secured, the team is aiming to build "a low-cost facility designed for everyone".It will feature bouldering walls for climbers of all abilities and the team hope to host regular public events for the community. 'Really special thing' Michael Love, who led the design, said: "This is about more than just climbing—it's about creating a shared space that reflects the values and needs of our community."A fundraiser for the plans has reached 97% of its target of £38, Hyndside, from Stroud District Council, voiced his support for the project, particularly as the closest climbing wall in Gloucester could be "really difficult" to get to."If you've ever spent much time in a climbing gym before you know you'll have conversations with strangers, you'll get to be centred in this part of the community and I think that's a really special thing," he team hope to open the facility in October.
