Deafblind man reaches Dutch coast

The trip will raise thousands of pounds for charity

A deaf and blind man aiming to become the first person to jet-ski from England to Holland and back has completed the first leg of his challenge.

On Monday night, Graham Hicks, from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, arrived on the Dutch coast around 12-hours after setting off from Sea Palling in Norfolk on the 290-mile round trip at 0730 BST.

Mr Hicks, who was accompanied by a pillion passenger to help him navigate, was delayed by engine trouble as he crossed the North Sea.

Earlier he told BBC Look East his trip would "make a very powerful message".

Mr Hicks travelled from the Wash to London last year

Mr Hicks has already set a world quadbike record, reaching a speed of 104 mph.

Last August he jetskied from the Wash to London.

He hopes his trip will raise thousands of pounds for the charity Deafblind UK.

But he told BBC Look East his record-breaking trip would bring more than just financial benefits to deaf and blind people.

"If it's a person who is both blind and deaf who does it first, it's going to make a very powerful message."