AN INTREPID Petersfield area kayaker managed to make it home for New Year – surviving sharks and storms in 95 back-breaking days at sea.

Will McCreadie (21) and his friend George Parry broke records too, becoming the unofficial youngest, fastest and first British team to conquer a perilous route across the Caribbean Sea.

Will was happy and relieved to make it back to his Compton home on December 29 to raise a glass to his feat with his proud family, including dad David and mum Laura.

There were many worrying times for his parents, other family members and friends as the voyage from Grenada to Miami, on the gruelling Golden Arc expedition, progressed.

The pair endured many storms in the Dominican Republic, setting them back weeks, but one lightning storm was particularly “terrifying”.

“As we were the highest objects in the water and our paddles were good lightning conductors, we had to lie as low as we could, keep our paddles in the water and cover our ears for 30 minutes,” said Will, who has just graduated in economics from Durham University. George (22), of Fulham, is completing his studies in Spanish at Durham too.

They had been warned of the risk of sharks, and they were visited by several in the Bahamas.

“They were a few metres away. We could see them as the water was so clear. They were about 7 foot along. We just kept paddling because you need to persuade them you are not food,” explained Will, a former Wellington College student who joins the Army in May.

They also saw sea turtles, stingrays, dolphins and flying fish, and were cheered by the amazing support of people they met along the way who offered them food and drink, and places to stay.

Incredibly, Will and George were novices to kayaking when they set off, although they have taken part in many outdoor challenges.

They feel privileged to have been given the opportunity for these, so have set up the Get Exploring Trust. This will give young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to sail, climb, abseil, hill walk, kayak and more.

With £19,000 raised for the cause so far, they will start to hand out grants in the summer.