Swampy’s 16-year-old son Rory Hooper has left him in tunnels below Euston where they were protesting against the HS2 project, declaring ‘I am looking forward to seeing mum’.
Rory had spent 22 days living underground in a move that had been criticised as bad parenting by some quarters.
When he came out of the tunnel he was put on a stretcher and carried away to safety.
But the teenager, who lives in Tipi Valley in Wales, earlier insisted the battle to stop the £98billion project was worth it.
He said: ‘After almost three weeks underground I am coming up. This means there will be more food for the others so they can resist for longer. Dad is staying in the tunnel and will hold out for as long as he can. I am looking forward to seeing mum.
‘I have loved digging and being underground and I will continue to protest, HS2 needs to be stopped. Young people like me have to take action to stop the ecocide being committed by projects like HS2 because we’re in an ecological emergency and our future is at stake.
Swampy says he ‘couldn’t be prouder,’ of his son, who has left him in the tunnels this morning
Dan ‘Swampy’ Hooper has been criticised as ‘reckless and irresponsible,’ for allowing his son 16-year-old son Rory (pictured) to stay in tunnels at the Euston Square Gardens HS2 protest
‘Digging a tunnel may seem extreme but maybe it is the only way.’
A statement released by HS2 Rebellion from his mother said: ‘I am so proud of Rory, he and other young people have stood up for what they believe in with courage and conviction, and we need to listen to what they are saying.
‘Being involved in the protest has been an amazing experience for Rory, I have watched him develop so many new skills and grow in confidence. I think Rory is looking forward to some home cooked food and time at home. I ask now that my family’s privacy is respected.’
Swampy – real name Daniel Hooper – had come under fire for allowing him to be in the tunnels, which have suffered a number of collapses.
Both father and son helped build the underground structures in protest over the HS2 high speed railway and its financial and environmental costs.
Pro-HS2 MP Andrew Mitchell told The Sun: ‘Swampy’s son should be studying as best he can for his next exam, not down the end of a dangerous tunnel.
Enforcement officers at Euston Square Gardens, London, after an HS2 protester left
HS2 Rebellion campaigners is an alliance of groups and individuals campaigners
‘His father is being reckless and irresponsible.’
A rescue expert had warned that heavy rain and sleet could cause tunnels beneath Euston in London to collapse and endanger HS2 activists living in the underground passages.
Swampy has spoken about his son joining the protest, adding: ‘To begin with, I didn’t want Rory to be in the tunnel for the eviction, but he was absolutely adamant that he would stay down there with me for it.’
The HS2 Rebellion group are protesting at Euston Square Gardens as they believe the small green space will be levelled to make way for a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developers.
As well as staying in tunnels, other campaigners were using trees to protest, although cherry pickers arrived at the weekend to dismantle the structures.
The group now says eviction teams are digging above their heads, and protesters were kept awake all night to ‘coax us out of the hole’, the BBC reports.
Demonstrators have not said how many are underground, but they are confident they can keep the protest going for a few more days.
One demonstrator said: ‘All night we’ve had rocks falling down onto our head through the gaps.
‘They’ve kept us awake all night for hours and hours and hours to keep us awake and try and coax us out of the hole.
‘All of the dirt is still coming down in my sleeves. It’s not the most pleasant of experiences, it’s pretty nasty to be fair.’
Some of the protesters outside the tunnels have been arrested.
The eviction team has taken off the roof from the structure protecting the front of the tunnel.
The HS2 Rebellion group are protesting at Euston Square Gardens as they believe the small green space will be levelled to make way for a temporary taxi rank before being sold to developers.
As well as staying in tunnels, other campaigners were using trees to protest, although cherry pickers arrived at the weekend to dismantle the structures.
The group now says eviction teams are digging above their heads, and protesters were kept awake all night to ‘coax us out of the hole’, the BBC reports.
Demonstrators have not said how many are underground, but they are confident they can keep the protest going for a few more days.
One demonstrator said: ‘All night we’ve had rocks falling down onto our head through the gaps.
‘They’ve kept us awake all night for hours and hours and hours to keep us awake and try and coax us out of the hole.
‘All of the dirt is still coming down in my sleeves. It’s not the most pleasant of experiences, it’s pretty nasty to be fair.’
Some of the protesters outside the tunnels have been arrested.
The eviction team has taken off the roof from the structure protecting the front of the tunnel.