Ignoring signs that warn travellers against strong currents in Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland, a group of boy scouts was seen entering the ocean for a swim yesterday. It was the second incident of dangerous behaviour by boy scouts in Icelandic nature yesterday.
Former member of parliament, Vigdís Hauksdóttir, told local news site Mbl.is that she saw the men enter the cold sea on Tuesday. There they threw themselves against the waves and let them carry them back.
We were all rather surprised by their conduct, she says.
Travellers have repeatedly been in danger at the beach
Several people have died in the black sand Reynisfjara, near Vík í Mýrdal on the south coast of Iceland, after being swept out to sea by the strong undertow in recent years.
Warning signs by Reynisfjara have recently been improved. They clearly warn travellers against going too near the oceanfront. Nevertheless, travellers have repeatedly ignored the signs and put themselves in harm's way at the beach.
Boy scouts apparently ignored warning not to cross glacial river
A group of ten French boy scouts were also rescued from islets in Skaftá glacial river in South Iceland yesterday, one of them with a Coast Guard helicopter. They had been attempting to cross the river, despite being warned against doing so by rangers in Vatnajökull National Park, according to Mbl.is.
Read more: Rescue helicopter retrieved a French boy scout stuck on an islet in Skaftá river
An international meeting of older boy scouts, the 15th World Scout Moot, is being held in Iceland later this month. Hermann Sigurðsson, director of the Icelandic Scout Movement, told Mbl.is that the scouts in Reynisfjara and Skaftá are not connected to the moot. Hermann says that the World Organization of the Scout Movement has been contacted regarding the scouts that waded into Skaftá.
Following the reports of the scouts questionable conduct in Icelandic nature, the organizers of the World Moot posted a warning on the event's Facebook page urging participants to stay safe while in Iceland.
Ignoring signs that warn travellers against strong currents in Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland, a group of boy scouts was seen entering the ocean for a swim yesterday. It was the second incident of dangerous behaviour by boy scouts in Icelandic nature yesterday.
Former member of parliament, Vigdís Hauksdóttir, told local news site Mbl.is that she saw the men enter the cold sea on Tuesday. There they threw themselves against the waves and let them carry them back.
We were all rather surprised by their conduct, she says.
Travellers have repeatedly been in danger at the beach
Several people have died in the black sand Reynisfjara, near Vík í Mýrdal on the south coast of Iceland, after being swept out to sea by the strong undertow in recent years.
Warning signs by Reynisfjara have recently been improved. They clearly warn travellers against going too near the oceanfront. Nevertheless, travellers have repeatedly ignored the signs and put themselves in harm's way at the beach.
Boy scouts apparently ignored warning not to cross glacial river
A group of ten French boy scouts were also rescued from islets in Skaftá glacial river in South Iceland yesterday, one of them with a Coast Guard helicopter. They had been attempting to cross the river, despite being warned against doing so by rangers in Vatnajökull National Park, according to Mbl.is.
Read more: Rescue helicopter retrieved a French boy scout stuck on an islet in Skaftá river
An international meeting of older boy scouts, the 15th World Scout Moot, is being held in Iceland later this month. Hermann Sigurðsson, director of the Icelandic Scout Movement, told Mbl.is that the scouts in Reynisfjara and Skaftá are not connected to the moot. Hermann says that the World Organization of the Scout Movement has been contacted regarding the scouts that waded into Skaftá.
Following the reports of the scouts questionable conduct in Icelandic nature, the organizers of the World Moot posted a warning on the event's Facebook page urging participants to stay safe while in Iceland.
