Ex-SAS commander reveals he took wealthy kids on vacation and staged kidnappings to spice things up

Former SAS commander reveals how he became an adventure holiday guide for pampered wealthy kids - and staged fake kidnappings and hostage takings to spice things up Alex Gardiner was in the Royal Greenjackets before serving in The SAS After leaving the army, he did 'sensitive' work for Arabs in the Gulf He suggested taking their sons on a trip when he saw how pampered they were His No. 2 on the trips was a former soldier from SBS - "a pilot, a doctor and a sniper"Here he reveals how they gave the boys much more than a standard holidayScroll down to see Alex's Zoom chat with MailOnline Travel...

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Posted: 09:53 BST, Jul 19, 2022 | Updated: 11:53 BST, 19 July 2022

Kidnapped at knifepoint, taken hostage by an armed madman and coming to the aid of a ranger who had his stomach ripped open by a buffalo.

Only - children did not know they were on the route. And didn't always find out afterwards that the terrifying scenarios had been faked.

The staged emergencies were created by Alex Gardiner, who has served as an officer in the Royal Greenjackets, became a troop and squadron commander in the Special Air Service and later commanded the 1st Sultan's Special Force Regiment in southern Oman.

The other 'tour guide' for these trips, he said, was an "extraordinarily talented ex-SBS guy - a pilot, a freefall instructor, an instructor underwater, a mountaineer, a medic and a sniper...but mostly a medic.”

They were joined by a former research pilot and rescue of the Royal Navy.

And their pampered...