"Isle show 'em" vows survivor

FRANK ROTHWELL

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

OLDHAM businessman Frank Rothwell made his first day stranded on a remote island look easy.

Frank, from Saddleworth, signed up to take part in Channel 4's "The Island with Bear Grylls" with the first episode airing last night.

Viewers saw Frank, wearing his soon-to-be iconic flat cap, start his five-week survival and endurance test on the show after being left on a Pacific island with a group of fellow castaways.

Left alone by adventurer Grylls with only the clothes they are wearing, basic tools and a day's training, the show tests their survival skills to the extreme.

This year, the show has a new twist of a generation divide featuring two groups aged 18 to 30 and 35 to 66, pitted against each other to see who copes best.

In the first episode, Frank quickly established himself as a leader within his group, even though he went "missing" early into the adventure after being too keen to move on and find a suitable location to set up base camp.

However, after quickly re-uniting with the group, Frank led the castaways to a beach and, with the help of other members, started a vital fire.

He even led the group in a sing-a-long on the first night and enjoyed a limpet broth before getting a good night sleep on a palm tree bed.

His efforts and resilience were praised by his fellow camp mates, who declared him a "Trojan" and a "machine" with Grylls himself impressed with the hard-work and dedication Frank showed to getting the camp set up.

Frank, is the show's oldest member at 66, said; "Success is what drives me, the word "quit" isn't in my vocabulary."

He also declared the first day "easier than he thought it would be".

Journey

However, he quickly realised he may have spoken too soon after the camp's only source of drinking water dried up and the group realised they had to make a treacherous journey to a new, neighbouring island.

Frank impatiently set off on the swim alone, only to need rescue by fellow camp mates after he became stuck in a current and risked being taken out to sea.

"The Island with Bear Grylls" continues on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm.