Influencer apologises for leaving bathtub on mountain

A content creator who took a bathtub up a mountain and left it there has apologised for what he called an "honest mistake".

Tom Christopher, 25, posted footage online of him carrying the tub up Pen y Fan, in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park - also known as the Brecon Beacons - in flip-flops during hot weather on 17 July, before bathing in it at the summit.

Christopher, from Swansea, said he had planned to take it back down immediately, but people had asked him to keep it there so they could take pictures - sparking a backlash about its impact on the environment.

A day later Cardiff Rugby academy players found the tub while doing volunteering work, and handed it to park officials.

Christopher said he wanted to make a "cool, wholesome video which made people smile" by carrying the bath up Pen y Fan, which stands 2,907ft (886m) above sea level.

"It was a complete, honest mistake," Christopher said.

"I obviously didn't mistakenly leave it up there, I didn't forget. It was a mistake in the fact I thought I was doing the right thing with people telling me it was 'awesome' and 'cool'.

"I should never have left anything up the mountain. I'm glad the message of this story is that, even though I'm the villain, everyone's sticking up for the national park.

"It's a dirty mistake, I shouldn't be leaving anything up the mountain.

"It's my fault for thinking it was a good idea, when clearly I should have been thinking more about keeping our nature clean," he said.

After being urged by people to leave it there, he said he had planned to go back two days later and send it back down on wheels.

He said he had subsequently received many messages criticising him for leaving it there.

Christopher said the national park had told him the incident had been reported as fly-tipping, and he was unclear if he would be fined.

"I haven't got the money. I'm in my overdraft, I haven't got the money to do anything.

"If it comes, I'll be gutted. I hope there's an option to do some voluntary work to try and pay the fine."

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park said the team work hard to maintain the site's natural beauty, biodiversity and access, adding that dealing with waste and litter left by visitors takes considerable staff resources away from this vital work.

The park said littering and fly-tipping were a significant problem across Bannau Brycheiniog - impacting wildlife, livestock and local communities - and encouraged everyone who visits the National Park to act responsibly and leave no trace.

Cardiff Rugby academy players stumbled on Christopher's bathtub while carrying out essential maintenance work on the mountain, and helped rangers retrieve it.

Writing on Facebook, the academy described it as an "additional and unexpected team-building exercise".