British man leaves rowing machine at top of Mont Blanc ‘because he did not have strength to take it down’

Former royal marine carried exercise machine close to peak of western Europe’s highest mountain to raise money for charity

A former royal marine has drawn the ire of a French mayor after he abandoned a rowing machine on Mont Blanc.

Matthew Disney set off on Friday to conquer western Europe’s highest mountain while carrying the rowing machine to raise money for charities providing care for British veterans.

Mr Disney made it to the 4,810m summit but left the exercise equipment in a hut on the upper slopes of the mountain.

The move infuriated Jean-Marc Peillex, the local mayor, who said: “Wackos continue to pollute Mont Blanc.”

In an open letter, he said Mr Disney did not have the strength to bring the rowing machine down and added: “With a name like that [Disney], you’d think he thought he was at an amusement park.”

The mayor also made a dig at Britain’s prime minister, writing: “Apparently Boris Johnson can’t keep control of his troops unless it was an idea by his friend Donald Trump.”

However, Mr Disney rejected accusations he was “littering” and said he abandoned the heavy machine a few hundred metres below the summit as the weather was worsening and he had to prioritise his safety.

He told The Local: “It was never my intention to make a mockery of the mountain.

“Something weighing over 700 pounds can’t be classed as litter. Anyone who knows me knows I have the upmost appreciation of nature.”

He added: “I was doing it for a good cause.”

Mr Disney said plans were in place for him to bring the rowing machine down from the mountain.

In his open letter, Mr Peillex also criticised a German tourist who climbed to the top of the mountain with his dog, which the police had warned against.

He said the dog survived the climb, but shared a picture of the animal, which supposedly showed it with bloodied paws.

Mr Peillex called on Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to “pass laws that from 2020 would severely punish all these wackos who break the law, and restore peace to Mont Blanc”.

At least three people have died on Mont Blanc this season.