Newbury teens among those evacuated in South Korea World Scout Jamboree

Two Newbury teens are among the many Scouts who were evacuated from a World Scout Jamboree campsite in South Korea.

Laura Swanson, aged 16, and Elliot Robinowitz, aged 17, set off for Gunsan-si on August 1.

But they were forced to leave their campsite early – in Saemangeum on the country’s west coast – due to extreme weather and unsafe conditions.

The Newbury pair joined a cohort of more than 8,000 Scouts – 4,500 from the UK and 4,000 from around 150 other countries – in leaving the main site almost a week earlier than planned.

They all arrived in Seoul on Sunday.

Scouts UK said the UK contingent have now been allocated their accommodation.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) said the early departure was due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun.

However, UK Scouts chief executive Matt Hyde said their were also concerns surrounding sanitation, food, medical services and heat.

Mr Hyde said he was disappointed in the organisers and organisation but said the cohort were welcomed by the British Embassy.

He also said that Seoul is a remarkable city – with a local football team reaching out and offering the UK Scouts 4,000 tickets to watch a game.

He said: “The reason why we have taken [this] decision is because we are concerned about young people and adult volunteer safety.

“And there were four reasons for that.

“The first is that we were particularly concerned about sanitation and the cleanliness of the toilets that were causing severe concerns from us from a health and safety point of view.

“In addition to that we were worried about health about food and those with dietary requirements in particular and the amount of food that was available.

“We were concerned also about the heat. It is punishingly hot here in Korea.

“It is an unprecedented heat wave but we were concerned about the heat relief measures that were being put in place.

“And finally we were concerned about medical services.”

He added: “We are disappointed in the organisers and the organisation and we do feel let down but the jamboree journey continues for us.

“At a very short notice we’ve pulled together an engaging program of activities and that’s happened largely thanks to the help of the British Embassy who welcomed all our participants back over the last couple of days.”

The UK Embassy and the mayor of Seoul are also supporting the UK team with developing programme activities so the young people still get the most from the rest of their Jamboree experience in South Korea.

Before setting off on the 6,000-mile trip from the UK to Korea, Newbury girl Laura said: “I can’t wait to meet loads of different people, learn about the different cultures and languages.

“I’m looking forward to hot air ballooning, I think, if not paragliding, I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

“It will also be really nice to look at the traditional and modern culture and how Korea has changed over time.”

Elliot, also from Newbury, said: “The leather craft looks really cool as it is a different craft from any we have learnt in Scouts.

“Night hiking sounds fun, I’m hoping we get to go to the National Park.

“I’m also looking forward to visiting the craft market, experiencing what their culture offers on market days and look at their cultural crafts.”

This is the 25th World Scout Jamboree and the second time South Korea has hosted – the first being the 17th year, in 1991.

Chief Scout and well-known British adventurer Bear Grylls said: “I’m so proud to be a part of a movement that puts young people first by helping almost half a million people develop skills for life.”

The Scouts are hoped to return home on Saturday.