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.' 

Sydney Window Cleaners Will Survive

David Wilson, 56, and Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos, (pictured) 35, plunged to street level yesterday as they cleaned windows high atop the Australian Stock Exchange building on Pitt Street.

‘They’re not fine but they’ll be OK’ owner of window cleaning business claims of fallen workers: The owner of the window cleaning company two men were working for when they plummeted 12 storeys in the Sydney CBD yesterday said they “will be OK” as they recover in St Vincent’s Hospital.

Ultra Clean Services manager Nick offered a “no comment” over the incident which remains under investigation. “They’re in intensive care,” he said. “They’re not fine but they’ll be OK ... they’re in a stable condition.”

David Wilson, 56, and Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos, 35, plunged to street level yesterday as they cleaned windows high atop the Australian Stock Exchange building on Pitt Street.

The anchor points of the metal cage the men were in and which gave way.

It is believed a cable holding the metal cage they were working in snapped — sending the pair into a terrifying near free-fall. They suffered extensive injuries and were rushed to St Vincent’s yesterday in a serious but stable condition.

Prior to his miracle survival, Mr Acero-Dastellanos had proudly shared photos of himself up in the clouds above the Harbour City, one he has made home with his young family. In a photo he shared with friends in 2012, Mr Acero-Dastellanos can be seen enjoying the spectacular view over Sydney as he cleaned windows along one of her main streets.

Colombian native Edwin Acero-Dastellanos clearly has a head for heights but was lucky to survive yesterday after he plunged towards the ground when the window cleaning cage he was using gave way.

The thrillseeker loves heights and has also shared photos of himself hang gliding. The lucky window cleaner is also a joyous young father who boasted in 2012 about how his baby daughter had learned to crawl.

The injured window cleaners were taken to St Vincents Hospital and are in a stable but serious condition. A fire Rescue NSW spokesman said both men were conscious and responsive when they were rescued. The accident happened during lunchtime peak-hour, with large crowd gathered in the area. Police had to close Pitt Street as a precautionary measure. 

Austin Window Washer Injured After Three Story Fall

AUSTIN, Texas -- Travis County emergency crews say a window washer was taken to the hospital in serious condition after falling 40 feet in Northwest Austin. The accident occurred just before 10 a.m. outside of a building on the 8300 block of North Capital of Texas Highway. The man was said to be in his 20s and is being treated at University Medical Center Brackenridge. Authorities say he is expected to survive.

Window washer injured after three-story fall in Northwest Austin: A window washer fell about three stories from a building in Northwest Austin but his injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said. He was conscious at the scene. Federal officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the scene with a witness Monday morning, police said. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said it took the man, described as in his 20s, to University Medical Center Brackenridge.

The investigation is not affecting traffic on Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) because the window washer’s fall took place well inside the parking lot of Prominent Pointe not far from Spicewood Springs Road. The window washer had potentially serious injuries Monday morning after falling about 40 feet, first responders said. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services took a man in his 20s to University Medical Center Brackenridge after he fell from a building in the 8300 block of North Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) near Spicewood Springs Road.

Window Washer Survives 6-story Fall

Window washer survives 6-story fall from Eau Claire bank/MILWAUKEE: A window washer survived a six-story fall from an Eau Claire bank building with one thought in mind - when was his safety rope going to catch? It never did. "I kept falling," 21-year-old Alex Clay said in a phone interview from Luther Hospital in Eau Claire Tuesday night. "It all happened so fast. I kept waiting. When's it going to catch? "There's a little roof over the entryway. I bounced off of that and then hit the pavement."

Authorities in Eau Claire, located in west central Wisconsin about 70 miles east of Minneapolis, St. Paul, said equipment apparently helped break the man's fall from the U.S. Bank building just after 3 p.m. Tuesday. But Clay said it didn't slow him down much. Still, he said doctors determined his main injury was a shattered bone on the arch side of his left foot. He said he also had six staples in his leg because he cut it on something as he fell. "I remember the entire fall all the way down," he said. He said the problem developed when he noticed a clip on his gear for rappelling wasn't fastened. "But I was trying not to panic because I had my safety line connected on the back of my harness," he said. A maintenance man and his co-worker tried to pull him back up, but he was too sweaty and tired to make it, he said. "I was hanging on for dear life at that time, even though I had the safety line on." That's when he let go.
Clay said police took the equipment he was using to inspect it. He said he had worked for Bob Smith Window Cleaning about four months. He doesn't plan on working on high buildings again, at least not for a long time. His mother, Susan Frederick, said she'll object if he tries. "It's just so amazing - and then to find out that he's going to be OK is just so fantastic," she said from the hospital. She said they wouldn't know until Wednesday when he will be released.

Name of window washer who fell six stories released: A 21-year-old window washer fell six stories Tuesday afternoon while working at U.S. Bank at 131 Barstow St., landing on the sidewalk. Authorities were notified of the fall at 3:13 p.m. Alexander Clay was transported to Luther Hospital. His equipment apparently helped break his fall, and his injuries were not believed to be life threatening, authorities said. Clay works for Bob Smith Window Cleaning. The Eau Claire Police Department is investigating the incident.