Chris Cameron: Veteran who hoped to break record for living on Rockall rescued by coastguard
A veteran who hoped to set a world record for living on a tiny distant islet has been rescued by the coastguard due to poor climate situations.
Chris “Cam” Cameron, a military veteran who served with the Gordon Highlanders, spent 32 days on the islet of Rockall – simply over half of his 60-day goal.
The veteran hoped to beat the world record of 45 days, set by Nick Hancock in 2014.
Mr Cameron – now primarily based in Wiltshire – took on the problem so as to increase cash for veterans’ charities earlier than dangerous climate situations gave him no selection however to abandon the problem.
A lot of his tools was destroyed by wind and waves, and he was nearly swept away at a number of factors all through the night time.
We’re trying ahead to welcoming him house and hope that any future adventures might be rather less dangerous
Cam Cameron’s household
He was introduced to security by coastguards earlier than 6pm and is claimed to be in “good fingers”.
An announcement revealed on a Twitter account created for Mr Cameron’s problem reads: “Cam has now been recovered from Rockall, and is protected and in good fingers.
“We’ll put up additional updates within the coming days. We won’t be conducting interviews presently.”
The uninhabited rock is 230 miles west of North Uist and is a mere 30m broad and 21m lengthy.
The Maritime and Coastguard Company confirmed a search-and-rescue staff was dispatched after receiving Mr Cameron’s misery name.
A set-wing plane was despatched out to assist the rescue.
Harry Brayford, expedition communications and shoreside supervisor, conformed he has spoken to Mr Cameron since his rescue, stating he’s in “remarkably good spirits”.
He mentioned: “I spoke to Cam at 8.30am BST on Wednesday and we mentioned the forecast for the approaching days.
“It was obvious Cam had suffered a extremely tough night time and we wanted to make a fast determination on whether or not to abort the expedition or push on.
“We checked out a lot of choices to safely extract Cam if required, however it shortly turned obvious essentially the most applicable possibility was for him to concern a ‘mayday’ name, which was picked up by HM Coastguard at Stornoway.
“They’ve co-ordinated the rescue mission and in addition to deploying vessels within the rapid neighborhood, they deployed each rotary and fixed-wing coastguard plane to help him.
“He was winched onto the coastguard helicopter simply earlier than 6pm BST after which flown again to dry land.”
Mr Brayford thanked the coastguard on behalf of Mr Cameron for rescuing him.
He added: “It’s disappointing to have to abort such an immense expedition, and while it was not a straightforward determination to make, it was the precise one with out query.
“I’ve spoken to Cam this night and he’s in remarkably good spirits contemplating. He’s very a lot trying ahead to a beer and a correct mattress to sleep in.”
An announcement from Mr Cameron’s household mentioned: “We’re massively happy with all his achievements, but additionally that he had the braveness to make what will need to have been a really tough determination within the face of such dreadful climate.
“We’re trying ahead to welcoming him house and hope that any future adventures might be rather less dangerous.”
His household joked: “Why couldn’t he simply have purchased a sports activities automotive within the first place?”
A documentary about Mr Cameron’s problem, named Rockall, The Fringe of Existence, is at the moment being produced.
Aaron Wheeler, director of the documentary, mentioned: “We’re glad Cam is safely again on dry land and look ahead to watching by way of the footage that Cam recorded throughout his occupation to inform the story of his journey.”
Donations can nonetheless be made through: https://www.justgiving.com/web page/rockallexped
Data on the documentary could be discovered at: www.rockalldoc.com
