Bear Grylls Investigated Over Water Slide
Even the seclusion of his private island cannot protect Bear Grylls from the reach of local government. The outdoorsman and television personality is under investigation after installing a water slide on his property.
Grylls recently tweeted:
"New slide attached at home on our island! You hit the water very fast!!!! pic.twitter.com/1BmPcFqG8J"
The link showed an image of a steep metal slide that plunges into the Irish Sea.
Authorities of Gwenydd, the jurisdiction in which Grylls' island is located, were alerted by the Man vs. Wild host's tweet and questioned if he may have violated some local code. A spokesman for the Gwenydd Council confirmed to The Independent, "Officers from the Council's Planning Service are investigating this case and will be discussing the matter with the site owner."
The spokesman admitted that the local council does not actually know whether or not installing the water slide would have required any governmental oversight, but they "are still looking" through the codes.
According to The Independent, one elected official questioned the impact the slide would have on the aesthetics of the area."I don't believe you should be allowed to erect a slide in an area of outstanding natural beauty such as St Tudwal's Island before going through correct procedures," said Wyn Williams, the councillor of the region. He also expressed concerns over the slide's safety. "As far as I'm aware, he uses it about two-to-four hours a day and it's used by the family itself. When the tide is in, that's not too bad. When the tide is out, there's quite a lot of rocks."
Reportedly, Grylls paid £95,000 ($147,886) for the stony 20-acre island. He and his family are its only inhabitants.