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Brendon Prince: Paddleboarder completes round-trip of mainland Britain | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Brandon Prince arrived back in Torquay on Tuesday after 141 days circumnavigating Britain on his paddleboard | Brandon Prince arrived back in Torquay on Tuesday after 141 days circumnavigating Britain on his paddleboard |
A sea safety campaigner has become the first person to circumnavigate mainland Britain on a paddleboard. | A sea safety campaigner has become the first person to circumnavigate mainland Britain on a paddleboard. |
Brendon Prince, 48, set off from Torquay, Devon, on 27 April and arrived back in his hometown on Tuesday. | Brendon Prince, 48, set off from Torquay, Devon, on 27 April and arrived back in his hometown on Tuesday. |
A flotilla of fellow paddleboarders escorted Mr Prince to shore after he completed the 2,500 mile (4,203km) challenge in 141 days. | |
The father-of-three said: "The only time I've felt like this was Christmas Day when I was about eight." | The father-of-three said: "The only time I've felt like this was Christmas Day when I was about eight." |
Mr Prince said he had been called "crazy quite a few times a day" for taking on the challenge. | Mr Prince said he had been called "crazy quite a few times a day" for taking on the challenge. |
There were emotional scenes in Torbay as Mr Prince was welcomed home by his family and hundreds of well-wishers | |
He said: "I think you have to have a massive motivation, and, for me, it's all about water safety." | He said: "I think you have to have a massive motivation, and, for me, it's all about water safety." |
Mr Prince was an off-duty lifeguard at Mawgan Porth beach in north Cornwall in October 2014 when three people drowned. | Mr Prince was an off-duty lifeguard at Mawgan Porth beach in north Cornwall in October 2014 when three people drowned. |
He pulled two people from the water but was unable to save their lives. | He pulled two people from the water but was unable to save their lives. |
Seeing the impact of the deaths on the victims' families drove Mr Prince to set up the Above Water charity, which teaches children about water safety. | Seeing the impact of the deaths on the victims' families drove Mr Prince to set up the Above Water charity, which teaches children about water safety. |
He said he wanted water safety to be taught to children annually in schools. | He said he wanted water safety to be taught to children annually in schools. |
Brendon Prince, seen here before he set off, said he wanted water safety to be taught to children annually in schools | Brendon Prince, seen here before he set off, said he wanted water safety to be taught to children annually in schools |
He said the incident was also the motivation behind the challenge. | He said the incident was also the motivation behind the challenge. |
"When you are getting up at 05:00 in the morning to put on soaking wet kit and paddle when no-one will see you for days, it's that motivation there, so I channel it and use it," he said. | "When you are getting up at 05:00 in the morning to put on soaking wet kit and paddle when no-one will see you for days, it's that motivation there, so I channel it and use it," he said. |
He said he was hoping to do good "for the sake of those families and many others that will hopefully never have to experience that". | He said he was hoping to do good "for the sake of those families and many others that will hopefully never have to experience that". |
Mr Prince also said the experience of his trek had changed the way he looked at life. | Mr Prince also said the experience of his trek had changed the way he looked at life. |
Setting off from Cornwall: The 05:00 starts in wet gear and wet weather were part of the paddle | Setting off from Cornwall: The 05:00 starts in wet gear and wet weather were part of the paddle |
He said the trip had included the highs of getting through difficult situations, seeing amazing wildlife and meeting people. | He said the trip had included the highs of getting through difficult situations, seeing amazing wildlife and meeting people. |
There had also been lows, including the first day when a two-hour paddle to Dartmouth took eight hours, he said, adding that he fell off 14 times. | There had also been lows, including the first day when a two-hour paddle to Dartmouth took eight hours, he said, adding that he fell off 14 times. |
"I am a changed person," he said. | "I am a changed person," he said. |
"What a privilege to have paddled for 141 days, and do what I have done, and make a difference." | "What a privilege to have paddled for 141 days, and do what I have done, and make a difference." |
Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |