Does the worldwide hotel chain sponsor children violence?
By Alex Trubachev (AlexClimb)
Children are not to be brought to the high mountains, especially
to an altitude which can seriously affect the growing body in not predictable way.
To attention of all the parents.
Climbing mountains is beautiful and
exciting sport but potential risks are very high there. People who climb
mountains must be fully conscious that on their decision depend their
health and life as well as the lives of others. Reasoning from this it is
clear that young children should not be brought to the extreme
mountain conditions which require power and responsibility of an adult.
Sometimes people who have no idea of how dangerous mountain climbing
can be, make the mistakes which cost too high price...
There is an example below, which could teach all of us to be more attentive
to our children.
Here are the shameful facts about Irish record maker Ian Mc Keever
who misused and nearly
killed the 11 years old child for realization doubtful project on
Elbrus sponsored by the worldwide hotel chain.
During July, 2008 Ian Mc Keever booked the Elbrus ascent with AlexClimb
Mountain Guide for himself, 11 years old Sean Mc Charry, Gordon Ward
and Adam King, but against all the recommendations omitted the
necessary acclimatization part of the program presuming than the child
has an "exceptional altitude resistance"...
AlexClimb climbing agency does not work with children.
Exception was made to Ian Mc Keever (who wasn't direct relative to the
child) only because he had the special letter from the mother of the
young boy which empowered him to take all the decisions and responsibility.
To that moment Ian had his own experience with Elbrus, quite a rough
one, as Elbrus is the only mountain which was not climbed from the first
attempt during his 7-Summits record. His new idea was to make
another speed record with a child. Ian Mc Keever was informed that
climbing in high altitude conditions without proper acclimatization
can have the fatal consequences for the health of young boy but Ian
declined this reasonable recommendation and made the decision to
attempt Elbrus in 4 days.
On the mountain from the first day it was clear that Sean was not ready
for the climb. While the short acclimatization walk everybody observed
that Sean got mountain sickness because of the sharp altitude gain.
His heart rate increase up to 180 even when he was quite and it was so
bad that Russian Guide leading the group made Ian to stop any activity
for this day. Ian Mc Keever insisted that this was normal and presumed
to make a short phone conversation with Sean's mother Noeleen Mc
Charry, after which he informed the team that Sean's mother approves
his decision to carry on "until Sean can walk".
(Afterwards, in communication with Noeleen it was
found that Ian Mc Keever never spoke with her about this matter, and
all that she knows is Sean had "minor nose bleeding".)
After the phone conversation Ian passed mothers words to the team that all is well and Sean always has high
heart rate. After that it was nothing to do but continue the program.
The following night Sean did not sleep, lost his appetite and
shown more serious symptoms of AMS. It was told to Ian Mc Keever that
the climb was not possible in such conditions. In spite of all the logic and sense, Ian Mc Keever decided to attempt
the mountain after one day rest. This decision was quite a stupid one
as the AMS can not be cured without going down from the mountain.
On the next day the team got a snow cat lift to the point 4700 m.
It was a perfect night for the climb, the ideal one, with many people
going up and with the best weather and snow conditions. But Ian's idea
to bring up a sick child and forcing him to walk up was not a good
idea at all.
After very slow 200 meters Sean said (he hardly could speak) that he can
not walk any more (his pulse was close to 200 again). Only after that,
Ian agreed to his Guide that the climb should be terminated as the
continuation can cause the death of the child.
After the descent Ian Mc Keever made the nearly recovered young boy to
tell lie to the journalists as to conceal the fact of his getting
sick, but the reason of Elbrus ascent failure was told the bad
weather.
As a result, Sean's Mc Charry physical health was seriously affected
as he was exposed to huge altitude stress without obligatory
preparation. Young boy also was injured psychologically as he was made
to lie to other people.
The reason for all this was nothing more than Ian Mc Keever's desire of
new world record and getting further sponsorship.
Most of the people go to the mountains to look for the tranquility and
calmness, some go there for the bright and clear impressions which
beautify their lives.
But some
scoundrels go to the mountains to realize their miserable ambitions
and do not hesitate to misuse and harm other people. Some cases are so
ugly that they deserve to be blamed and punished publicly.
|
