On 16 May 1998, Edward Michael Grylls reached the summit of Mount Everest, achieving a childhood goal at the age of 23. This feat occurred merely 18 months after a severe parachuting accident in Zambia resulted in three broken vertebrae, marking the beginning of a career defined by endurance in extreme environments and global television projects.
Early Development and Military Service
Born on 7 June 1974 in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland, Grylls moved to the Isle of Wight at age four. His father introduced him to climbing and sailing, and he later earned a second dan black belt in Shotokan karate. Educated at Ludgrove School and Eton College, he helped establish Eton's first mountaineering club. From 1994 to 1997, he served as a trooper in the Territorial Army with 21 SAS. During this tenure, a free-fall parachute failure in 1996 forced him to survive a 16,000-foot descent.
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Following his Everest ascent, Grylls pursued various high-stakes challenges. In 2000, he led a jet ski circumnavigation of the British Isles. His 2003 North Atlantic crossing involved navigating an open rigid inflatable boat through force 8 gales. In 2005, he participated in a record-breaking open-air formal dinner at 7,600 metres under a hot-air balloon. His 2007 paramotoring expedition near Mount Everest reached an altitude of 9,000 metres. In 2008, an attempt to climb an unclimbed peak in Antarctica ended prematurely when he suffered a broken shoulder while kite-skiing.
Broadcasting and Public Roles
Grylls transitioned into television with series such as Man vs. Wild, The Island with Bear Grylls, and Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Beyond his media career, he served as the Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories from 2009 to 2024, becoming the second-longest-serving individual in that role. He holds the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Marines Reserve and was appointed honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College in 2024. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 June 1974, Donaghadee
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Military service: 21 SAS (1994-1997)
- Chief Scout tenure: 2009-2024
- Education: Birkbeck College, Hispanic studies
- Languages: English, Spanish, German, French
- Honorary appointment: Army Foundation College (2024)
- Award: Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Questions readers ask
How did he get the name Bear?
His elder sister, Lara Fawcett, gave him the nickname when he was one week old.
What academic degree does he hold?
He graduated from Birkbeck College in 2002 with a 2:2 bachelor's degree in Hispanic studies.
Achievements
- Expeditions: ascent of Mount Everest
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Recorded as explorer, motivational speaker and mountaineer
