A man who was sexually assaulted by a children’s television presenter has spoken of how climbing and mountaineering saved his life and “sanity” during the 50 years in which he kept the abuse secret.

Iain Peters, 77, who has waived his right to anonymity, was between nine and 13 years old when he was abused weekly by John Earle, when he was a geography teacher and deputy head at a now-closed boarding school in Okehampton, Devon.

Asked what he thought would have happened to him without climbing in his life, he shared the experience of his best friend, who was also abused by Earle, often in front of each other.

“He never recovered,” he said. “He didn’t have climbing. He didn’t climb. He lost his mind. He tried to kill me at one stage. He tried to stab me. I said ‘Why?’ He said ‘Because you survived.’”