Ex-SAS commander reveals he took wealthy kids on vacation and staged kidnappings to spice things up
Ex-SAS commander reveals how he became an adventure holiday tour 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 SBS soldier - "a pilot, a medic 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. .
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 - kids didn't 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 Sultan's 1st 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, a underwater instructor, a mountain climber, a medic and a sniper...but mostly a medic."
They were joined by a former pilot from Royal Navy Search and Rescue.
And their pampered ones...
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 - kids didn't 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 Sultan's 1st 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, a underwater instructor, a mountain climber, a medic and a sniper...but mostly a medic."
They were joined by a former pilot from Royal Navy Search and Rescue.
And their pampered ones...
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