How not to get trapped in a NUCLEAR BUNKER! like we did

[RedStateConnect]

Hi everyone so last week we went to Melbourne R.O.C post a nuclear monitoring master-post in Derbyshire. It was my friend and colleague's birthday and we had planned to go snowboarding at the snow-dome later that night so just wanted to pop in on the way home from filming our new series of hunting history. after taking a few pictures of the hatch with the hasps up we forgot to fold them back down and unfortunately as we closed the hatch the hasps fell back and trapped us inside. as we pushed from underneath it just jammed the hasps further. lucky for us we had enough signal and battery to call a friend and 4 hours later we were saved. but it got us thinking that this could happen to anyone and could take a dark tone if you had forgotten your phone and didn't have contact. These are dangerous places we all like to visit and sometimes i think we can forget that. so i wanted to create this video to highlight this danger and stop others from getting trapped aswell. We hadnt even thought about it before as most the hasps are locked back or not freely moving as well and it took us by surprise. i know ive mentioned this on a few forums now and alot said the same hense the video. its not a master piece but it gets the message across and shows you exactly what i mean as explaining in writing isnt as strong as a visual aid. thanks about it anyways people stay safe out there and i hope you enjoyed the short vid. we do have full footage of us trapped inside the post that will be released in an episode in the upcoming series starting later this year, so youll all get to have a wee laugh at us panicking! also have you experienced any similar situations? would be good to get a thread going for things to looks out for.

here is the video link:

 

[krela]

Fair point, it can be surprisingly easy to get trapped... not just with ROC posts but self closing doors with no door handles (they're often removed by metal miners for scrap) etc, that's happened to me before! It's also possible for points of entry to be sealed up / locked by security while you're inside too, that's happened numerous times that I know of.

Floors collapsing can also cut off your escape route, can think of that happening before.

Bottom line is wherever you are, always be aware of and secure your point of exit.

Welcome to the site, and you're right the video is much more engaging and understandable than a bunch of text. Nicely done.

 

[Mikeymutt]

You were lucky.I normally go with someone to an roc and we take it in turns going down the hatch.thankfully I ain't had the pleasure of being stuck somewhere and hope I never do.I always keep doors open with something if they still have the catches on them

 

[RedStateConnect]

@Krela: Dam thats a great point i hadnt thought of before either with self close doors etc! thats a good shout. i have had security lock me in a few places that involved some fun climbs to get back out. exactly thats it mate its easy to turn off when taking photos or just exploring and we forget about these dangers when everything seems fine. of course as we know fine isnt always safe. Thankyou Krela i have used this site for years but never had an account so i thought this year i would to be able to give a little back to the site that has helped me so much in the past.

 

[RedStateConnect]

@Mikeymutt: unfortunately we did but both ended up in the hatch at the same time haha! ive said i will take cable ties in future to pin them back if they are not already and remove once we leave so theirs no chance of it happening. we pull it down for shots and photos etc and in some of them made it less obvious (sometimes mr farmer is not a fan when its out in his field or something)but a little wedge of some sort is not a bad shout might do that too next time. but its defo an eye opener thats for sure. im just gutted it happened on his birthday! not exactly the night he had planned but hey at least we okay.

 

[smiler]

I've spent a night in one but that was deliberate, never really thought about getting stuck in one, well done for pointing it out. Thanks

 

[Dirus_Strictus]

Let me pass on a trick learnt nearly 55 years ago - Always carry at least two long shank padlocks in your exploring bag, so you can lock the hasp back onto the safety spigot on the door - that's why you have the extra spigots welded/fastened to the hatches/doors. A safety measure that indicates the place is both unlocked and occupied. The padlocks are cheap (smallish brass body and chrome shank) and one certainly cannot cut them off with a knife, like you can if cable ties are used.

 

[prettyvacant71]

Thats proper scary stuff!!! It's not worth thinking about if you didnt get a reception or battery died, Im feeling sick thinking about it!

Ive had a few near misses with the doors Krela mentioned and sec sealing u in, but stuck in a ROC sounds terrifying!!!

Thanks for thinking of others and reminding us all to try to minimise the risks as its often too easy to become complacent.

 

[RedStateConnect]

Much better than my cable tie idea how didnt i think of buying padlocks! cheers mate ill defo grab some for my next venture just incase.

 

[RedStateConnect]

i know right, his phone had died but manage to post on his facebook that we were stuck and needed help with my phone number and luckily we got through to a friend in our town that came out. but for a while down there we were really just thinking there is literally no way out. didn't have food or water just a head touch each and im diabetic as well again all my stuff in the car as it was only going to be a few minute visit to check the place out for another day. still were okay and its a good lesson learnt. anytime i posted it in another group and we basically got laughed at and called idiots by this one guy (clearly Mr ive done it all nothing can get me) but you always get a few of those and id rather show my stupid mistakes so others can learn from it before something bad happens to somebody.

 

[Dirus_Strictus]

Your nasty experience is a classic example of 'it's the little things that can really turn nasty' and one should always remind others of the dangers. I think there will be very few of us, on looking back over all our explores, who can honestly say they never were in a situation that could have harmed them in some way - even just a foot through a dodgy floor!

 

[MD]

Why did you close the hatch ?

 

[welsh_noir]

you plonkers,
thanks for sharing.
im sure many people would find this usefull.

 

[clinka]

....and always tell someone where you are going! At the very least if you fail to check in with him/her indoors, or Mum/Dad or whoever, at least they know where you were going. I would rather have my collar felt than ....... don't bear thinking about.

 

[The Wombat]

interesting reading.
Popped down a couple of ROC posts on my own, without telling anyone where I was. Stupid really.

Thanks for sharing