A SOCIAL media ‘influencer’ has apologised for leaving a full‑size bath tub at the summit of Pen y Fan after attempting an ill-judged stunt that didn’t really wash with hikers.
The tub was hauled to 2,907ft (886m) on the highest peak in south Wales last Thursday where it was abandoned after filming.
Just 24 hours later, a group from the Cardiff Rugby Academy reached the summit and were so appalled by what they found they decided to take matters into their own hands and carry the bath all the way back down the mountain.
Writing on social media, the team said: “Fantastic day for senior academy supporting the National Trust at Pen y Fan with some invaluable work experience and teamwork essential. Also the group had the pleasure of carrying a bath from the top down. Who would leave a bath up there?! #mindless.”
With the story spreading, the man behind the stunt – 25-year-old Tom Christopher – came forward and apologised. He admitted he had been trying to break the record for the world’s highest bath and that the stunt had cost him £400, pushing him into his overdraft.
Sadly for Tom, there were some serious flaws in his record attempt. Firstly, Pen-y-fan stands at just 886m, and considering there are hundreds of Alpine lodges and hotels well above 2,000m – all enjoying full bathroom facilities – it was never going to be a record contender. The plans for then coming back down with the bath also didn’t go down well with mountain users.
A photo shared alongside the apology showed Christopher standing next to the bath before it was abandoned, and he has since faced calls to pay a fine for fly‑tipping in a protected beauty spot.
“I knew that night I should’ve taken it down and I am sorry. It was my fault and my mistake; I have definitely learned my lesson not to do it again,” he said.
“The honest truth was I thought I’d leave it there for 48 hours and then take it back down. I should have left a note on the bath explaining that really.
“My intention wasn’t to leave it up there, I really was planning on taking it back down, but the amount of people that were messaging me was insane. I received about 40 photos from strangers showing them using the bath and loving it.”
Tom then conceded: “Social media is always hard – one minute there is lots of love, the next you are berated for being ‘lazy’ and a ‘fly-tipper’.”
The incident has reignited debate around irresponsible behaviour on Britain’s mountains, and highlighted the importance of respecting fragile landscapes. Pen y Fan is one of the UK’s most visited peaks, and conservation groups say acts like this undermine efforts to protect the area. But the response from the Cardiff Rugby Academy has been widely praised.
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