Bear Grylls
Other countries seem to have the monopoly on survivalist. You are probably familiar with Steve Irwin who made a name for himself on The Crocodile Hunter and died in 2006. Bear Grylls is a survivalist who is from the United Kingdom and makes a living doing things you and I would not do for any amount of money.
Man vs. Wild host, survivor and adventurer Bear Grylls is used to a few challenges. He was born in Northern Ireland and soon moved to the Isle of Wight. His father would take him mountain climbing with him at a young age.
Bear, having a Karate Black Belt, passed the exhausting UK Reserve’s Special Forces Selection process, where he went on to serve for three years with the British Special Air Service. He specialized as a combat survival instructor, and was also trained in evasive driving, parachuting, demolitions, trauma medic, unarmed combat and jungle warfare. In 1996, he suffered a freefall parachuting accident in Zambia. His canopy ripped at 16,000 ft, partially opening, causing him to fall and land on his parachute pack on his back, which partially crushed three vertebrae.
However, 18 months after his accident Bear went on in 1998 at 23 years old to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the youngest Brit to ever accomplish the feat and one of the youngest people to ever do it.
Never wanting to sit around, Bear went on to have another first when he and his Everest climbing group circumnavigated the UK on jet skis. Not soon after he led the first unassisted crossing over the frozen North Atlantic Ocean in an open rigid inflatable boat. Because of this feat Bear was awarded a commission in the Royal Navy.
In June 2005, Bear broke another world record by hosting a dinner party at a table suspended below a hot air balloon at 24,500 feet. He made his way down from the balloon to the table where he dressed up and ate a three-course meal. He then saluted the queen and skydived down to earth. By doing this he raised money for two charities, the
Man vs. Wild host, survivor and adventurer Bear Grylls is used to a few challenges. He was born in Northern Ireland and soon moved to the Isle of Wight. His father would take him mountain climbing with him at a young age.
Bear, having a Karate Black Belt, passed the exhausting UK Reserve’s Special Forces Selection process, where he went on to serve for three years with the British Special Air Service. He specialized as a combat survival instructor, and was also trained in evasive driving, parachuting, demolitions, trauma medic, unarmed combat and jungle warfare. In 1996, he suffered a freefall parachuting accident in Zambia. His canopy ripped at 16,000 ft, partially opening, causing him to fall and land on his parachute pack on his back, which partially crushed three vertebrae.
However, 18 months after his accident Bear went on in 1998 at 23 years old to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the youngest Brit to ever accomplish the feat and one of the youngest people to ever do it.
Never wanting to sit around, Bear went on to have another first when he and his Everest climbing group circumnavigated the UK on jet skis. Not soon after he led the first unassisted crossing over the frozen North Atlantic Ocean in an open rigid inflatable boat. Because of this feat Bear was awarded a commission in the Royal Navy.
In June 2005, Bear broke another world record by hosting a dinner party at a table suspended below a hot air balloon at 24,500 feet. He made his way down from the balloon to the table where he dressed up and ate a three-course meal. He then saluted the queen and skydived down to earth. By doing this he raised money for two charities, the
Bibliography: "Bear Grylls." Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. . "BIOGRAPHY." BG BEAR GRYLLS DOT COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. .