Teenager hits 1,800 mile landmark

Seb and Flash are expected to finish the walk in November

A teenager who sparked a major search and rescue operation after stealing a boat and getting stuck is 1,800 miles into a sponsored walk to make amends.

Seb Green, 18, and a friend were found after a land and air search costing £20,000 when they got stranded near Weymouth Harbour, Dorset, in May 2004.

He is spending nearly a year walking 5,821 miles (9,367km) around Britain to "pay back the community".

Along with his border collie Flash, he is raising £20,000 for two charities.

Mr Green, from Weymouth, was 15 when he and another teenager stole a rigid inflatable boat 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.

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

In a bid to make amends he decided to walk round the country and raise £20,000 on the way.

He has already passed back into England more than 1,800 miles into his walk which has seen him and his dog follow a route up to John O'Groats in Scotland.

He is sleeping under the stars in his tent for most of the trip.

The money raised will go to 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.

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