Scout ambassador nearly killed by lightning on solo flight in open-cockpit gyrocopter says teenagers should stop being scared of failure

A Scout ambassador who was nearly killed by lightning on solo flight in an open-cockpit gyrocopter says teenagers should stop being scared of failure.

Adventurer James Ketchell has become the first person to fly solo around the world in the machine.

The 37-year-old, from Basingstoke, set off from Popham Airfield in Hampshire on March 31 in the small aircraft, which is similar to the one seen in the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.

He completed the 24,000-nautical mile, 175-day journey yesterday.

Mr Ketchell said he spent his teenage years depressed and lacking in confidence, but a serious motorcycle accident led him to turn his life around.

Speaking to the Press Association after his success he encouraged other teens to forget their worries and “get out there”.

He said: "With the birth of social media, teenagers now are frightened to do anything in case they get hung, drawn and quartered because they are worried about their image.

"I try to get my message out that 'Don't worry about anyone else and get out there and do your thing and your life will become free'."

During the trip he set himself the goal of speaking at a school in every country he visited, to help motivate youngsters.

His Magni M16C gyrocopter travels at 70 knots, with a range of just 700 nautical miles, and its cockpit is open to the weather.

His journey took him across Europe, Russia, Canada, the US and the Atlantic Ocean, heading to Greenland and Iceland, before his final staging post on the Danish Faroe Islands.

But at one point in Canada it could have all been in jeopardy when he was almost struck by lightning.

Mr Ketchell said: "I was almost struck by lightning and had to attempt an emergency landing on the road."

He said that he was glad in a way that it was raining on Sunday when he landed, as it enabled people to understand some of the challenges he faced.

"It shows people that it's not that simple, flying around the world.

"People had a slightly better understanding about what I have been trying to achieve," he said.

His challenge is raising funds for the Kindled Spirit and Over The Wall children's charities.

My Ketchell was greeted by a large crowd of wellwishers when he landed on Sunday, which he described as “magical”.

"It's quite overwhelming, it's magical," he said.

"I have seen many amazing sights over the last six months. Probably one of the best is flying into Popham.

"It's an incredible feeling and I just hope that I manage to achieve my challenge and inspire as many people as I can."