Boy, 6, who sailed round island 'inspired by Bear Grylls'

A six-year-old boy who completed a solo sailing trip around a island to raise money for the RNLI said he was spurred on by a birthday message from Bear Grylls.

Theo circumnavigated Hilbre Island, off West Kirby in Wirral, on Tuesday and said while he was "scared" during the two-hour trip, he was inspired by the TV adventurer's words.

"I got a message from Bear Grylls and he said to follow my dreams and never give up," he said.

His father Matt, who volunteers with the lifeboat charity, said he was "bursting with pride".

The youngster travelled from West Kirby Sailing Club to Hilbre Island, before going right round it and returning to the mainland, covering a distance of nearly three miles (5km).

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Matt said there had been "a whole heap of trepidation" before Theo's sail.

"I was in a safety boat, so I could have intervened if I needed to, but I didn't," he said.

"He was a little distance ahead of me [and] he was managing absolutely brilliantly on his own."

Theo said he was "scared" during the sail, which took nearly two hours to complete, but recalled what Grylls said to him to steel himself.

"I just remembered what I got on my birthday," he said.

"I got a message from Bear Grylls and he said to follow my dreams and never give up."

His efforts raised more than £1,000 for the RNLI.

Theo said he had wanted to help the charity because he liked "the fact that they go around saving people".

Matt, who is a volunteer crewman at West Kirby Lifeboat Station and joined the charity in 1998, said the West Kirby Sailing Club did not know of anyone else of Theo's age who had sailed the same distance.

"As far as we know, he's a bit of a record holder," he added.

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