Teenager's UK walk to make amends

Seb and his dog Flash will spend nearly a year walking.

A teenager who sparked a major search and rescue operation after stealing a boat and getting stuck is walking thousands of miles to make amends.

Seb Green and a friend were found after a massive land and air search when they got stranded near Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, in May 2004.

The 18-year-old will spend nearly a year walking 5,821 miles (9,367km) with his border collie dog, Flash.

He is raising cash for two charities in a bid to pay back the local community.

Mr Green was 15 when he and another teenager stole a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and became stranded in mud in Fleet Lagoon late at night.

Both teenagers began shouting for help and Seb got out of the boat to walk to safety, but became stuck up to his waist in mud.

It was a very stupid thing to do Seb Green

A passer-by heard their screams and called for help.

The coastguard helicopter, Dorset Police helicopter, two coastguard land-based teams and two RNLI lifeboats were launched to rescue the pair.

Mr Green, from Weymouth, said: "It was a very stupid thing to do.

"At the time I felt extremely guilty but as time has moved on the sense of guilt has faded because I am now planning to repay the community for the money I wasted and repay some of the money it cost to rescue me."

He hopes to raise £20,000 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity which grants the wishes of seriously and terminally ill children and provides hospital entertainment.

Mr Green is in the Territorial Army and plans to join the Royal Marines. He will sleep under the stars in his tent for most of the trip.

He and three-year-old Flash will walk to Dover, along the Thames Estuary, up to John O'Groats in Scotland, before heading back south through Wales, Lands End and The Lizard in Cornwall.

He hopes to be back home in time for his 19th birthday on 30 November.