Unjustified risk: tourists increasingly venture to dangerous places for beautiful photos

Social networks have become so popular that they have captured the hearts of millions of users around the world. For the sake of beautiful photos, people are willing to travel literally to the other side of the world to get as many likes and comments as possible. However, this often leads to situations where rescue services are needed.

Tourists neglect safety rules. Instead, rescuers complain that the number of calls to them is at a record high. This is especially true for mountaineering, as tourists go hiking unprepared, reports the Daily Mail.

Instagram expands knowledge about places to visit. People scroll through the feed thinking, "I'll go there," but without the necessary preparation.

To provide at least a minimum level of training for such adventurers, volunteer rescuers have created the website adventuresmart.uk, which aims to inform inexperienced climbers about the basic requirements before going to the mountains. There you can find information about the necessary clothing and footwear, as well as weather conditions.

The Llanberis team, which covers Snowdon, Wales, responded to 305 calls in 2023 through mid-December - a record number, rescuers say. Statistics show that a record 714 emergency calls were also made last year to the Lake District's 12 mountain rescue teams. Over the past seven years, the highest number of calls in one year was 681.

Other mountain rescue teams in Scotland have also been feeling the strain of receiving calls. Ian Murray, head of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said:

"The number of rescues shows that more people are getting out and about, which is a good thing, but unfortunately, some of them are getting into difficult situations. This can then turn into a tragedy."

Among the tragedies the team had to deal with last year was the death of 66-year-old dentist Nathan Turner from Worcestershire, who fell from a height of 130 feet. In April, the body of 26-year-old London student Zekun Zhang was found in the area. He was last seen near the summit of Carn Mawr Dirg and is believed to have hiked from there to the summit of Ben Nevis.

Walker Harvey Christian from Peterborough is still missing. Hopes of finding 42-year-old Mr. Christian alive have long since disappeared. Investigators believe that his body was covered with snow. This has made the search more difficult. He climbed Ben Nevis on January 27 but did not return.

Although the rescue services are working at the highest level, they still urge people to prepare for mountain hiking, check the weather conditions before going out, and be as vigilant and cautious as possible.