Bbc 'putting lives at risk' promoting dangerous finnich glen gorge

So far this year, Lomond Mountain Rescue Team has been called out to Finnich Glen four times since May and has rescued four people. The most recent rescue on August 9 saw a man and a woman

winched to safety with both of them having stripped off like Mr O'Donnell before entering the water. After that incident, local resident Helen McAllister wrote on the team's

website: "Well done, however this site is proving to be unsafe there has now been several call outs to the pulpit in recent weeks and months. Perhaps BBC Scotland should rethink their

advertising of the area before someone is killed!" Jacqui Scott added: "I think the websites that advocate visiting should also highlight the fact that parking is very limited and

that it's not an easy site to visit." And Fiona Robertson wrote: "Totally agree. I am surprised there are not more accidents." Just a week later, on August 16, the team

was called out again after a pile of abandoned clothing was found near the entrance to the glen, which has also featured in movies such as King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Yesterday, the

mountain rescue team published a statement on its Facebook page confirming there had been a "significant rise in call outs" to the Devil's Pulpit. It said: "The marked

increase in visitor numbers has followed the gorge featuring in several recent appearances on film and television, in print and online. "A visit to the Glen can be a memorable

experience but we would like to bring to the publics attention several safety concerns and potential hazards. "Exceptionally well hidden, the edges of the gorge are vertical,

occasionally overhanging, dropping nearly 70ft into the river. At the narrowest point you can touch both its walls. "Travelling the full length of the gorge is committing, it can

require swimming and canyoning ability, with the appropriate equipment, to negotiate the river safely. "There are very few points where it is safe, or indeed possible, to climb out. 

"Despite it officially being the summer, the water is cool and its level rapidly rises after heavy rain. Consequently hypothermia is a real concern if you are not suitably clothed.

"There are several deep pools along the route. During high water there are a number of submerged potential trap hazards. "Important to note that there is no mobile phone reception

in the depths of Finnich Glen. Calling for help is impossible, unless there is someone above able to assist. "Lomond MRT was called to the fourth emergency here only a couple of weeks

ago. Each has involved quickly extracting cold, wet and trapped visitors by raising them vertically up the mossy, wet walls by rope.  "We would ask that you take this information into

consideration before your visit. Please take care and be mindful of the dangers highlighted above." A BBC Scotland spokeswoman said: "Finnich Glen is a magical location, which is

what is being celebrated in a light-hearted way in this series on The Social. "Known as The Devil's Pulpit, it is obviously a place where people should however take care. A recent

posting of the film on The Social clearly advises that visitors should wear the appropriate clothing and to think of their safety before going into such areas."