Icelandic police hunt for Edinburgh charity fundraisers
They set off with the noblest of intentions – to raise as much money as they could for PoppyScotland. However it seems that a plan to raise funds by off-roading in Iceland has incurred the wrath of the gods – or at least the local police – and could yet spark a diplomatic incident.
In the finest Boy’s Own tradition, ex-servicemen Matt McHugh and Rhys Rowlands have been planning Operation Ragnarok (a Norse term interpreted as Final Destiny of the Gods) since April. During their month-long expedition this month the men plan to drive a pick-up truck on tricky off-road terrain to the summits of five or six volcanoes across Iceland. It’s the type of challenge Jeremy Clarkson himself would relish.
However it appears that their meticulous planning did not include checking out Iceland’s environmental laws and local sensitivities. The pair’s escapade has caused a storm of protest and could land them in hot water – and we’re not talking geysers!
A number of readers, including some from Iceland, have contacted NEN to express their anger over the expedition.
One said: ‘This is as illegal as it gets in Iceland, you cannot do off-road driving in Iceland. I hope this is just a(n) honest mistake and that you two are not one of the people to leave scars in the fragile environment that we are responsible for!’
Another added: ‘I sincerely hope they find another way to fund this. As others have said here before me off road driving in Iceland is illegal and an downright insult to us Icelanders. The nature here is very delicate and driving off road damages it and leaves a permanent mark.
‘The damages to moss alone can take hundreds of years to heal and frankly travelling to a country that is known for its untouched nature only to damage its nature is idiotic.’
According to local news source Iceland Review the ‘volcano hunters’ are now being hunted by police. IR’s Alex Elliot reported: ‘Northeast Iceland police were not informed of the expedition ahead of time, and the police chief in Húsavík says the case is under investigation in partnership with Vatnajökull National Park rangers to see what damage has been caused to the sensitive landscape.
‘The police chief says that all motorized traffic in the area is forbidden and if the men did indeed drive there, they were in a restricted area. The case would fall under nature protection laws. Any punishment will depend on how much damage the alleged off-road driving has caused and could result in heavy fines.’
Back in April when they launched their Operation Ragnarok campaign, the pair (above) said they were bracing themselves for ‘a tough time ahead’.
Matt said: “I have always wanted to see lava and, admittedly, there might be simpler ways to do this but tackling these volcanoes and reaching the summits is going to be a huge adventure and will test our endurance and stamina to the maximum.”
Rhys added: “The rocky, off-road environment and varying climate of Iceland will test our resilience and perseverance. The attributes and skills we learned in the military will help us to operate in this remote area but it will still be extremely hazardous.”
A tough time and hazardous, indeed – but maybe not the kind of challenges the comrades trained for …