The Apocalypse Window Cleaner

Ian Coulthard, 46, from Gateshead, has trained himself to live in the wild as he prepares for an apocalypse.

Window cleaner spends 10 years burying secret stashes of supplies in woods across UK because he says he has to be ready for the Apocalypse: Ian Coulthard, 46, has been preparing for an apocalypse for last 10 years, fearing social and economic ruin, he has trained himself to live in the wild. Mr Coulthard, who was in the Territorial Army, said: 'Not everyone is preparing for an apocalypse. It's just a very possible scenario'

A window cleaner has been preparing for an apocalypse for the last decade – even burying secret stashes of supplies in woodlands all over the UK. Ian Coulthard, 46, has trained himself to survive in the wild, fearing social and economic collapse could come in the next 20 years. The bachelor, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, has pinpointed around 35 spots in Scotland, northern England and Wales, where he could seek refuge if his safety is threatened.

Mr Coulthard has always been interested in the outdoors, but in recent years he has become more wary of the potential for 'social and economic chaos' to wreak havoc.

Speaking for the first time about his survivalist lifestyle, he said: 'I am preparing for the scenario where you have to get out of your house fast. 'I have places I can go - safe places - where I have food and first aid supplies stashed, which can last me up to 10 days. 'Not everyone is preparing for an apocalypse. It's just a very possible scenario. 'In the last decade alone, we have had floods, drought, riots and recession, so I hope people can see how prepping is an important aspect of anyone's life.'

Mr Coulthard has always been interested in the outdoors, but in recent years he has become more wary of the potential for 'social and economic chaos' to wreak havoc. His fears include terrorism, a major virus and civil war breaking out in Britain.

Mr Coulthard first got a flavour for the wild when he was in the Territorial Army, for six years in his 20s and again for 10 years, from aged 35 to 45, doing two tours of Afghanistan.

Mr Coulthard, who now runs his own window cleaning business, first got a flavour for the wild when he was in the Territorial Army, for six years in his 20s and again for 10 years, from aged 35 to 45, doing two tours of Afghanistan. He believes the military training and survival skills he has developed himself will help him survive in the wild. And, a decade ago, he started finding secluded places around the UK, keeping a record of each location, meanwhile honing his survival skills and sleeping outside in a hammock or on the floor, even in the snow.

'I prepare for the winter as I don't have gas in my terrace house, just an old coke fire, although I do have electricity,' he added. In each of his 'stash sites' - created for back up, in case the apocalypse hits - he has around £35 worth of food and first-aid supplies, based on army ration packs. He says it is enough to live for 10 days on 5,000 calories a day while on the move, or longer on a smaller diet.

'Social and economic collapse could happen, probably in 15 to 20 years and people need to be prepared to survive', he said. 'It is reassuring that I have these stashes, but I know I could survive and live off the land. 'I really don't want it all to go wrong. I want the world to be a beautiful place – but that's not going to happen.'

Mr Coulthard says he would take his elderly parents with him if they wanted to leave in a last-resort-scenario. He runs bug-out (or emergency) survival weekends, teaching people how to stay alive when evacuating from a disaster. He added: 'I don't think people should go out and panic. But this is a possible scenario and I think people should be prepared for it.' 

Detroit Ladder Rescue

Scary moments for a window washer who ended up dangling by his feet on the side of a building near downtown Detroit.

DETROIT - Scary moments for a window washer who ended up dangling by his feet on the side of a building near downtown Detroit. The man was washing windows on a building in the 900 block of Henry when something happened to his gear. He slipped and got stuck hanging by his feet.

Detroit emergency crews responded and were able to free the man within a matter of minutes. His coworker was preparing to go up with him to help wash windows when he looked up and saw him dangling.

Window Washer Rescue In Downtown Vegas Underway

A window washer was reportedly in distress when calls to LVFR were made on Monday. Click to enlarge.

Window washer rescue in downtown Vegas underway: LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - Emergency crews were sent to a high-rise in downtown Las Vegas Monday on reports of a window washer in distress. According to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, the worker was working aloft on the side of a high-rise building at 330 Lewis Ave., across from the Clark County Courthouse, when his equipment failed. First calls of the situation to LVFR were reported just after 10:30 a.m. LVFR said they were attempting to help the worker down from the building's eighth floor with the use of a ladder. Authorities don't believe the person in distress was injured during his ordeal.

The window washer became stuck while working on the windows of a building at 330 Lewis Ave., across from the Clark County Courthouse. Click to enlarge.

Firefighters attempting to rescue stranded window washer: Fire officials are attempting to rescue a stranded window washer trapped on the side of a building in downtown Las Vegas. The man got trapped when the window washing platform mechanism broke, leaving him stranded between the eighth and ninth floors around 11 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said. Firefighters are attempting to pull the man up from the roof of the building after an attempt to use a ladder fell short, he said. The man is uninjured and is on the shaded side of the building, Szymanski said.

Window washer knocks on window to ask for rescue. The window washer’s machine that lifts him became stuck and he knocked on a window, asking the person indoors to call the fire department, said Timothy Szymanski, a spokesman for the fire department. The window washer, a man working at 330 S. Third St., was brought to safety by a female firefighter, fire officials said.

Firefighters rescue downtown Vegas window washer: A 48-year-old window washer was rescued safely after his tether malfunctioned outside a downtown Las Vegas office building. Alex Ramos said he was suspended for more than two hours before rescuers lowered him by ropes to the sidewalk about noon Monday. He told reporters he never panicked when his gear malfunctioned at the eighth floor. He just knocked on a window. An office worker dialed 911 about 10:35 a.m.

Ramos says he was surprised by the number of firefighters who arrived with a 100-foot ladder truck and several other engines at the building near the Regional Justice Center. The bucket only reached the seventh floor. Ramos works for N&R Cleaning. He's been doing the job for eight years. He calmly snapped cellphone photos as firefighters reached him for the rescue.

Alex Ramos said he was suspended for more than two hours before rescuers lowered him by ropes to the sidewalk about noon Monday.

Details surrounding downtown window washer rescue: Action News cameras captured a dramatic rescue as a window washer finds himself stuck, dangling several stories from a downtown Las Vegas high-rise. Window washer Alex Ramos was near the top of the building just across from the Regional Justice Center when his equipment malfunctioned. Rescuers stood on a platform at the end of a ladder as it extended up the building and toward Ramos, coming within just few feet, but still more than an arm’s length away. Plans quickly shifted, and firefighter Mari Bussio had to be lowered down from the top of the building to get to him. Dozens of onlookers watched as Ramos maneuvered the ropes, successfully attaching him to Bussio.

Ramos, who's been washing windows for 8 years, remained calm as they rappelled down the side of building. The two were greeted by paramedics the moment their feet touched the ground, and just moments later Ramos was off again, seemingly unphased by the entire ordeal, and on to his next window washing job. The entire rescue took about an hour from start to finish. Ramos said he's planning on going back to the store where he bought his equipment to ask for a refund.