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Paddleboarder set for Turkey-Gibraltar challenge

David Haze told BBC Radio Solent that paddleboarding across the Mediterranean sea would be "an epic one"

A former prisoner, turned record-breaking paddleboarder, is set to cross the Mediterranean Sea to raise money for charity.

David Haze from Bournemouth is planning to paddle 4,000km (2,485 miles) from Turkey to Gibraltar on a hard paddle board.

He said he planned to make the 100-120 day crossing by breaking it into six-day stints - five days paddling and wild camping followed by a rest day.

He plans to set of from Turkey at the end of August.

Orange paddleboard on water with man in shorts standing on it he is wearing a life jacket and has a black paddle in the water on the left side.
Mr Haze expects to take more than 100 days to paddle along the Mediterranean Sea

Mr Haze said the challenge would be "an epic one".

"I'm looking to do it solo and unsupported starting from Turkey, following the coastline to Italy, then over the Africa, off to Morocco and then up to Gibraltar where I will finish.

"But with these sort of challenges there is going to be a lot going on particularly with the weather conditions," he said.

Watersport Library Man in shorts sat on a paddleboard with a oar across his lap a brick building can be seen behind him.Watersport Library
Mr Haze turned his life around by enrolling on a prison reform programme

The former city trader began taking on sporting challenges in 2020 after serving time in prison - he had turned to a life of crime and drug taking after losing his job.

His said his life took a new direction after he enrolled on a prison reform programme and started completing a series of adventure challenges on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP).

He will be raising money for three charities, Dorset Mind and The Alliance of Sport - which help people rehabilitate after a spell in prison through sport.

The third is The Adventure Therapy Company - a charity that organises free outdoor and adventure-led activities for children and adults with health conditions or limitations.

Mr Haze holds numerous paddleboard world records including a 24-hour paddle around Poole Harbour to raise money for a local water sports library and a five-day circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight to raise funds for Surfers Against Sewage.

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