Stunt rider helps channel crosser

DAREDEVIL Graham Hicks is at it again.But this time instead of breaking land-speed records on a quadbike the deaf and blind man is today trying his luck on the English Channel along with his navigator Stowmarket stunt man Matt Coulter.

DAREDEVIL Graham Hicks is at it again.

This time, instead of breaking land-speed records on a quadbike, the deaf and blind man is today trying his luck on the North Sea along with his navigator, Stow-

market stunt man Matt Coulter.

The disabled man known as G-force set off shortly after 7.30am in his bid to become the first person to jet-ski from England to Holland and back again.

The 41-year-old married man from Peterborough will control the four-seater Yamaha jet ski during the 290-mile round trip and the younger "Kangaroo Kid" Coulter, his pillion rider, will give him directions by touch.

Mr Hicks set off from Sea Palling, Norfolk, this morning and aimed to be in Amsterdam by mid-afternoon. He plans to rest tomorrow then return triumphant on Wednesday.

In June, Mr Hicks set a world quadbike speed record, reaching a speed of 104 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Leicestershire.

"No one has ever jet-skied from England to Holland and back," said Mr Hicks. "For a blind and deaf person to do it first will send out a powerful message."

A spokeswoman for Mr Hicks said he was hoping to avoid gales forecast.

The money raised from his latest challenge will go to the charity Deafblind UK.