British adventurer becomes first human in history to conquer the world by land, air and sea

British adventurer James Ketchell has secured his place in history as the first human being to travel around the entire planet by land, sea and air.

The 43-year-old Basingstoke native arrived at Haslar Marina in Gosport on Saturday.

He completed the final leg of his sailing circumnavigation after 45 days at sea from Cape Town.

Family members, including his fiancée Lisa Bulmer, parents Trisha and John, brother Jeremy and nephew Max, gathered to welcome him home.

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Gosport Mayor Cllr Kirsten Bradley was also among those greeting the record-breaking explorer.

Mr Ketchell told The News: "It sounds crazy to say but I've now become the first person to circumnavigate the globe by air, sea and land."

Mr Ketchell had already achieved a cycling circumnavigation covering 29,000 kilometres in 2013.

He then set a Guinness World Record for a gyrocopter flight spanning 44,450 kilometres around the globe in 2019.

His remarkable career also includes reaching the summit of Mount Everest and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean.

The professional adventurer and motivational speaker has built his achievements against considerable odds, having previously survived a serious motorcycle accident that doctors warned might leave him permanently unable to walk properly.

His 40-foot vessel, named Mindset, carried him through some of the world's most treacherous waters, navigating past the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn in varying weather conditions.

The expedition served a dual purpose beyond record-breaking, with Ketchell dedicating significant effort to motivating young people throughout his journey.

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He visited schools and youth groups at stops including Lanzarote, Cape Verde, Brazil, South Africa, Tasmania and Argentina, continuing a commitment outlined in his book The Ultimate Triathlon to speak at educational institutions in every country he passed through.

He said: "Every country, every school and every young person I have ever met reminds me that adventure means nothing unless it inspires somebody else to believe in themselves - more is always possible if you put your mind to it."

The author of two books and Hampshire Scouting Ambassador described the voyage as "the hardest thing I've ever worked on."

Ketchell, serving as an Ambassador for the National Oceanography Centre, undertook several scientific missions during his voyage.

These included deploying a satellite-linked Argo float, an autonomous robot that gathers ocean data for a worldwide monitoring network, and collecting microplastic samples for research conducted jointly by the NOC and SeaKeepers, a non-profit funded by Beyondly.

He also contributed to a United Nations-backed initiative mapping the world's seabed in three dimensions as part of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The expedition raised awareness for two charities.

Kindled Spirit, which supports young female victims of exploitation and trafficking, and Baton of Hope, focused on suicide prevention.

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