Bear Grylls slammed after leaving son, 11, in middle of sea for training exercise

Bear Grylls has been criticised for involving his 11-year-old son in a ‘risky’ training exercise at sea

Bear Grylls slammed after leaving son, 11, in middle of sea for training exercise

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

According to reports, Bear Grylls had approached the RNLI to say he wanted to help them practise saving children, near his home on St Tudwal’s Island, North Wales.

He tweeted a picture of his son Jesse, 11, standing on rocks surrounded by waves.

The survival expert captioned the image (since deleted): "Jesse and the @rnli on a training exercise to rescue him off the rocks!"

However the 41-year-old was later criticised by the RNLI, who told the Daily Star that they had no idea the training exercise would feature a live child.

RNLI manager Gareth Hughes said: “I certainly wouldn’t put my young son on those rocks. No-one was hurt thankfully.”

Via Twitter

However, despite Hughes saying that Bear’s ‘risky’ exercise had given the RNLI the “wrong kind of publicity”, others at the company have praised the dad-of-three for his hard work and dedication.

The RNLI's Divisional Operations Manager Lee Firman told BBC News: "The RNLI has worked with Bear Grylls over a number of years and he has been a great ambassador which we are very grateful for.

"Last Thursday, on their normal training evening, the crew at Abersoch agreed to carry out a joint exercise with Bear.

"The lifeboat and its crew was in close attendance and the boy was in sight at all times and wearing a life jacket."

Bear Grylls, known to many as a dedicated and loving dad, previously told Closer Online: “My three young boys have always been a little wild and I love that in them.

“Great adventures teach them not only great life and outdoor skills, but also gives kids a confidence and pride that money cannot buy.”

He has not commented on the RNLI’s comments about the training exercise.

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