A FORMER Oratory School pupil has set a new world record by becoming the youngest person to row across the Atlantic Ocean unassisted.
After completing his A-Levels last summer, Lukas Haitzmann set his sights on conquering the 3,000-mile challenge.
He was welcomed by a huge local crowd in Antigua on February 8 and tucked into a 'huge burger' to celebrate his amazing achievement.
He said: "It all went really well, but there were tough times.
"A challenge should be difficult, but it was just about pushing through it.
"The big motivation for me was to be an inspiration to young children; if you set your mind to something you can achieve anything."
Lukas started his epic journey in La Gomera in Spain, before setting off for 59 days, eight hours and 22 minutes.
Despite having to eat freeze dried food, he summoned the energy to get through mentally challenging moments.
Although it was tough for him to balance his studies with his training regime, Lukas said it has been 'totally worth it' and he will soon start studying Engineering at Swansea University.
He added: "There was a nice big reception from all of the locals. Initially, it was only supposed to be my mum at the finish line.
"As I arrived, I could see lots of friends and family. It was a personal challenge, but it was also about being an inspiration to other people.
"There were ups and downs. The water maker that filters out salt water broke within the first 10 days so I had to use a manual pump.
"I had done marathons and rowing challenges before, but this was as much of a mental thing for me. You just have to keep pushing yourself and give it one final push."
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