Former Melksham teacher rescued in Rockall challenge

Former George Ward School teacher, Chris ‘Cam’ Cameron, who was living on a remote uninhabited North Atlantic rock ledge for charity, has returned home after being rescued by the coastguard due to declining weather conditions. 

Cam landed on Rockall which is situated 230 miles west of mainland UK on 30th May where he was aiming to break a world record by living on the rock’s ledge for 60 days, raising money for The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. 

However, due to a decline in weather conditions, Cam was forced to issue an emergency call and was rescued by the coastguard on day 32, following the wind and waves destroying equipment and nearly sweeping him away.  

Expedition communications and shoreside manager, Harry Brayford said, “I spoke to Cam at 08:30 BST on Wednesday [28th June], and we discussed the forecast for the coming days. It was apparent Cam had suffered a really rough night, and we needed to make a quick decision on whether to abort the expedition or push on. We looked at a number of options to safely extract Cam if required, but it quickly became apparent the most appropriate option was for him to issue a ‘Mayday’ call, which was picked up by HM Coastguard at Stornoway.  

“They have coordinated the rescue mission and, as well as deploying vessels in the immediate vicinity, they deployed both rotary and fixed wing coastguard aircraft to assist him. He was winched onto the coastguard helicopter just before 6pm BST, and then flown back to dry land. Our heartfelt thanks go to the crews of the HM Coastguard aircraft and all the vessels in the area that assisted. It’s disappointing to have to abort such an immense expedition and whilst it was not an easy decision to make, it was the right one without question.” 

Speaking to Cameron on the evening he was rescued, Harry said, “I’ve spoken to Cam and he’s in remarkably good spirits considering. He’s very much looking forward to a beer and a proper bed to sleep in.” 

Cam’s family said, “We are hugely proud of all his achievements but also that he had the courage to make what must have been a very difficult decision in the face of such dreadful weather. We are looking forward to welcoming him home and hope that any future adventures will be a little less risky.” 

A few days before Cam was rescued, he tweeted news that he had reached the fundraising milestone of £10,000. He said, “In the week that the weather at Rockall turns and gets really, really rough, the fundraising has also hit a milestone of £10k – thank you to everyone who has supported so far.” 

Rockall is described as, ‘the remotest, loneliest and most desolate place in the British Isles.’ Cam lived on a ledge on Rockall, measuring just 1.5 x 4 metres (5ft x 13ft), just below the peak of the 17-metre-high sheer-sided granite outcrop. 

Cam served for six years with the Gordon Highlanders and in the Rockall challenge followed in the footsteps of five other people who have successfully stayed for more than one night on the site, including Nick Hancock, the current record holder, who stayed for 45 days in 2014, but also left due to bad weather conditions. 

The journey has been captured on film and will be part of a new documentary by Northern Heart Films in collaboration with Slick Films. 

Donations can still be made at, https://www.justgiving.com/page/rockallexped