Rockall rescue set to feature on small screen as Buckie ex-pat’s bid to return dashed
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A BUCKIE expat who has raised over £20,000 for Armed Forces charities after braving a month on Rockall has had to abandon his attempt to return to the remote island.
Last summer saw Chris ‘Cam’ Cameron, who now lives in Wiltshire, precariously perched on a ledge measuring just 4m x 1.5m some 17m up a cliff face with the primary aim of raising cash for ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. The former Gordon Highlanders soldier also had his eye on smashing the 45-day endurance record set by Nick Hancock in 2014.
However, freak foul weather forced Cam to abandon his bid as the risks became far too great, culminating in him making a Mayday call and being evacuated by a Coastguard helicopter on June 28.
His dramatic rescue meant that all his kit - including his landpod living accommodation - had to be left behind, and he had hoped to return to Rockall to see what could be salvaged. Cam also wanted to check if Megan’s stepping stones (a memorial made from rocks epoxied together in memory of a Buckie girl who died from cancer) were still intact and to also instal a plaque.
He was due to be accompanied on his return by Al Baker, from Inverness, no stranger to Rockall having been there in 1996 for Greenpeace.
However, it was not to be.
Cam said: “I attempted to recover my kit on April 18, sailing from Kirkcudbright.
“However the weather was unstable and too dangerous to affect a landing on Rockall.
“We abandoned the attempt on April 20 and I returned home to Wiltshire.”
Cam’s dramatic rescue from Rockall is set to feature on TV this Saturday when the second episode in the new series of Coastguard takes to the screen at 8pm on Channel 5.
He was keen to again voice his gratitude to the bravery and expertise of those who plucked him to safety as storms battered Rockall.
Cam continued: “I am of course eternally grateful to HM Coastguard at Stornoway and the search and rescue team at Stornoway Rescue 22 who provided top cover.
“Special thanks goes to the captain and flight crew from RAF Lossiemouth who came out to see me and kept me company and to the captain and crew of MPV Hirta, who sent me some gifts. Also to the captain and crew of MV Nassauborg from the Netherlands, who stayed with me for four hours until my rescue and to the people of Stornoway and Buckie for their kindness and support throughout.
Special thanks also goes to Peter Harcus for the photos of Rockall from his fishing vessel on Valentine's Day and to the skippers and crew who kept me sane during my month-long expedition.
“We have so far raised in excess of £21,000 for military charities and the Rockall documentary will be aired soon along with the accompanying book.”
Saturday’s episode of Coastguard will also be available on Channel 5’s catch-up service My5.
Learn more about the expedition and Cam’s fundraising at https://www.rockallexped.com/
READ about Cam’s original plans to return to Rockall HERE.
