Influencer who left bathtub up a Welsh mountain apologises for ‘honest mistake’

The social media influencer, who moved the bathtub to a mountain in Wales and left it there, said it was an “honest mistake”.

25-year-old Tom Christopher took a bath to Pen y Fan mountain in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park on July 17 and shared a video of himself taking a bath at the top.

He told the BBC his intention was to make “a great, wholesome video that makes people smile” and said he would be “gutted” if he was sentenced for fly tipping.

Mr Christopher, from Swansea, said fellow climbers at the top of the 2,907ft mountain asked him to keep the tub there so they could take photos, and he initially planned to move it back.

The tub was discovered the next day by Cardiff Rugby Academy players and handed over to park authorities.

He received significant backlash for his actions, with many accusing him of disrespecting the beauty of the Brecon Beacons and knocking flies.

“This was a completely honest mistake,” Mr Christopher told the BBC.

“Obviously I didn’t leave it there by mistake, I didn’t forget it. It was a mistake to think I was doing the right thing with people telling me it was ‘wonderful’ and ‘wonderful.’

“I should never have left anything on the mountaintop. I’m glad the message of this story is that everyone takes care of the national park, even though I’m the bad guy.”

“This is a big mistake, I shouldn’t leave anything at the top of the mountain.

“It was my mistake to think this was a good idea when I should have thought harder about keeping our nature clean,” he said.

He added that it was unclear whether he was fined after the incident was reported as fly tipping.

“I don’t have any money. I’m in my overdraft, I don’t have any money to do anything.

“I’ll be gutted if he comes. I hope there’s an option to do volunteer work to pay the fine.”

A spokesman for the National Trust, Cymru, said rangers helped the rugby players take down the tub “due to the risk it poses to both visitors and the area of ​​scientific interest”. [SSSI] with the potential for contamination”.

Littering and fly tipping can cause serious damage to landscapes and wildlife and distract rangers from essential conservation work, the spokesman said.

“We encourage everyone who visits the mountains, countryside and beaches in our care to ‘leave no trace’ so everyone can enjoy these special places.” they added.