An influencer has faced criticism for transporting a bathtub to the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, as part of an attempt to break a record for the "world's highest bath." Tom Christopher, 35, carried the tub to the 3,000-foot mountain with the intention of filming himself taking a bath at sunset and leaving it for 48 hours.
Christopher stated he wanted to create a "crazy" and "cool" video, and had placed signs at the mountain's base requesting assistance from passersby to fill the tub with river water. However, a group from the Cardiff Rugby Academy discovered the bathtub during a volunteer day, approximately 24 hours after it was placed. Mistaking it for abandoned waste, they removed the tub and carried it back down the mountain.
A spokesperson for the Cardiff Rugby Academy described the action as "mindless" and highlighted the effort involved in removing the heavy item. "Who would leave a bath up there?! #mindless," the academy stated.
Christopher has since apologized for his actions, asserting that the stunt was "genuinely for a good cause" and expressing happiness that people are advocating for the cleanliness of national parks. He admitted the bathtub weighed a significant amount and was difficult to transport, but he had intended to retrieve it after the 48-hour period. He acknowledged that he should have left a note explaining his intentions.
According to Christopher, he incurred a £400 financial loss due to the incident, as he had bought a new bathtub for the stunt and it has since been crushed by National Trust rangers. He stated he has learned from the mistake.
Initial video of the stunt went viral, garnering over 200,000 views within four hours. Christopher explained that the video's purpose evolved to showcase public collaboration in filling the bath, aiming to make it a community event.
The incident has ignited debate online, with some suggesting Christopher should face penalties for fly-tipping. In Wales, fly-tipping fines can reach up to £1,000, with potential increases to £5,000 under new regulations.
A National Trust Cymru spokesperson confirmed that their rangers, with assistance from Cardiff Rugby Academy volunteers, removed the bathtub due to risks it posed to visitors and the Site of Scientific Interest, including potential contamination. The spokesperson emphasized that littering and fly-tipping harm landscapes and wildlife, diverting rangers from essential conservation work. The Trust encourages visitors to "leave no trace" to preserve natural areas for all.
Christopher, who is 35 years old, carried the tub up Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, in an attempt to break the record for the 'world's highest bath'.
