Nick Hancock in 2014 returned from a unique and record breaking expedition to the remote isle of Rockall in the North Atlantic. He did this whilst raising £10,000 for the Help For Heroes charity. This was an expedition which Bear Grylls described as “An ambitious, exciting and wonderfully mad project…” Nick lived alone on Rockall, in a home-made survival pod perched on a small ledge. He ended up staying on it for forty five days. This was a record which in 2023 was contested by another adventurer Chris Cameron. Chris was hoping to spend 60 days on Rockall, but after 30 days he sent out a distress call. He was the airlifted from the island due to sea conditions and worsening weather. Nick’s 45 day record is safe for now.
Rockall is over 15 hours and 230 miles from the Outer Hebrides.
Due to the complex logistical requirements and fund raising issues, Nick’s project was five years in the planning.
Nick Hancock described himself as an overweight and unfit pre-teen. He went on to become an officer cadet and Army Bursar. It was during this time he trained with the US Army. Unfortunately a knee injury stopped his aspirations of a career in the military. It was the training required to recover from this injury that opened a new door for Nick and pushed him to try and find his own mental and also his physical limits.
Nick Hancock worked as senior instructor for John Ridgway at his remote Adventure School in Sutherland. A school described as “the UK’s toughest management training school”. His work involved teaching, motivating, breaking down and assessing multi-national corporate management teams in high pressure outdoor environments. Nick holds degrees in Environmental Geography and Surveying, He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and is a qualified Mountain Leader.
Stating that his dislike of hot weather was his motivation behind running the Marathon des Sables, the continuing desire to find his own limits have pushed Nick to run several ultra-marathons. He also climbed some of the world’s highest mountains and eventually led him to Rockall. Here he lay in fear for his life through a Force 9 gale. The gale swept away food and equipment vital to the expedition.
Having safely returned, Nick Hancock is always looking for new ways to find his own personal limits. He does this whilst educating others in his own personal philosophy of Discipline, Optimism and Endurance in all aspects of life. It’s also something he applies to being a father.
Nick Hancock resides in Edinburgh.