Bear Grylls criticised as son left on rocks for training exercise

TV action man Bear Grylls was at the centre of a row after his young son was left on rocks for a lifeboat training exercise.

The survival specialist tweeted a picture of Jesse Grylls, 12, on the rocks to his 1.2m followers, saying: “Jesse and the @RNLI on a training exercise to rescue him off the rocks!”

However, when the lifeboat station manager at Abersoch, north Wales, returned from holiday he criticised using the boy during the rescue exercise.

Gareth Hughes said the lifeboat crew understood it was a “low-key” routine training exercise and were not aware the youngster was to be involved.

“I certainly wouldn’t put my young son on those rocks, and also it could encourage people to do the same which would be unfortunate,” said Hughes.

“No one was thankfully hurt, but in his efforts to give the RNLI some publicity this way is the wrong kind.”

Grylls was understood to be on holiday in north Wales at his home on St Tudwal’s Island at the time of the exercise, last Thursday.

More than 200 people accidentally die each year around the British coast and earlier this year, the RNLI launched a new Respect The Water campaign.

The charity said: “The lifeboat was in close attendance, the boy was in sight at all times and wearing a life jacket.”