Instagram / @nathanfrench98One man’s mountain is another man’s medical emergency, as 19-year-old Nathan French discovered at the top of Mount Snowdon last Saturday.
The Liverpudlian set himself the mammoth task of climbing the highest peak in Wales to fundraise for Dementia UK, but the nature of modern-day viral charitable giving dictates, no good deed is worth its salt unless you look like an idiot in the undertaking.
So Nathan climbed in his underwear – Superman boxers no less – in a bid to raise awareness for the neurodegenerative disease and subsequently, had to call emergency services when he began to show early signs of hypothermia 1085 metres up at the summit.
While many have dubbed the gesture ‘stupid’ Nathan – whose 72-year-old grandma has just been diagnosed with dementia – claims there’s a lot more to his attempts than meet the eye.
The sport, nutrition and health university student told the Liverpool Echo:
For a while I’ve wanted to do something to raise money for Dementia UK. My nan has dementia so it’s something that’s close to my heart.
However the people who know me will know I always like to do something with a bit of a twist and something a bit fun – so that’s how I decided to do the climb in Superman underwear.
Since his story has been picked up by the national media, Nathan has received flack for allegedly wasting the emergency services’ time and feels it’s necessary to set the record straight.
On Instagram, he wrote:
The man seeing me at the bottom and was with me for no longer than 20 minutes, did not have a problem seeing me was entirely helpful and understanding. I actually brought a smile to his face too. Reading the story properly and in depth it was made out I was legit dying…
I was showing the signs of hypothermia yes and he agreed it was early signs but I didn’t want to say this at any point because it’s sounds narcissistic but I’m going to say it – No one’s on my level, no one. I said I could do it and I did it.
The best laid plans of mice and charitable men, eh?
Nathan is planning to climb Ben Nevis for charity next year, but says he’s got many other (albeit metaphorical) mountains to climb along the way.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.