Student who climbed Snowdon in Superman pants for dementia charity gets hypothermia

A student who climbed Snowdon mountain in his underwear was treated by paramedics after suffering from hypothermia.

Nathan French, 19, from Halewood in Merseyside, had to call an ambulance from the summit in Wales, but descended the mountain before he was treated.

The teenager, dressed only in a pair of Superman pants, performed the stunt to raise money for the Dementia UK charity, as his grandmother suffers from the condition.

After completing the 1,085m climb to the top of the mountain, the highest in Wales, he began to feel unwell.

When he returned to the bottom for treatment, paramedics found his blood sugar and blood pressure had dropped and he was beginning to suffer from hypothermia.

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Mr French studies sport, nutrition and health at university.

He told the Liverpool Echo: ‘For a while I have wanted to do something to raise money for Dementia UK.

‘My nan has dementia so it is something that is close to my heart.

‘The people that know me will know I always like to do something with a bit of a twist and something a bit fun – so that’s how I decided to do the climb in Superman underwear.’

After climbing the mountain, he took the train back down to the bottom, after four women offered their tickets.

Mr French said negative comments he received on social media were unjustified as he was with a paramedic for no longer than 20 minutes.

He has raised more than £2,000 for Dementia UK through his JustGiving page.

Following the stunt, the emergency services warned climbers to dress appropriately for the cold conditions.

Miles Hill, of Llanberis mountain rescue team, told The Guardian: ‘While we are sympathetic to his charity fundraising for a very worthy cause, we would question the planning and perseverance which went into his day on the hill.’

He said it can be 10C colder at the summit of Snowdon than it is in Llanberis, the village at the foot of the mountain.

‘Anybody walking in the mountains should always carry enough equipment, clothing and food to be self-sufficient for the duration of their trip, including adverse changes in weather,’ he said.

‘Even with temperatures in the teens, with minimal clothing Mr French would have been highly susceptible to wind chill.’