A RECORD-BREAKING paddleboarder from Bournemouth is set to take on another world record by making his way across the English Channel before heading to Paris.

David Haze, 39, is a nine-time world record-breaking paddleboarder and ocean activitist who discovered his passion for adventurous sport four years ago.

In 2019, he was released from prison for burglary and handling stolen goods, but since then has restarted his life and broken paddling records in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Iceland.

David said: "For me, adventures completely changed my life.

"I've learned so much through myself about paddleboarding, keep pushing the possibilities of what I can do through what I've achieved. 

"It's more powerful than anything I've ever done.

"Those demons I fight with when I'm on the water, it makes me a lot stronger when I'm off the water and I have mental health dips.

"So, I come into any any struggles in life. I've now got the personal tools to fight."

Talking about the upcoming adventure, David said:  "At the moment the sun is shining, but this river is very busy.

"It's because it's the Mainland River to Paris. There's loads of big boats on it. It's not a scenic. You can't really prepare for things like these. You have to take a hold of your mind, you can achieve anything you." 

For David, adventure has helped him to find his inner strength. Earlier in May, he paddle boarded across the English Channel in tandem with his adventure partner Joe Cartwright, something that he’d already broken the record for solo.

Being an environmental champion, David has also made a name for himself in zero-carbon, environmentally-friendly adventures, and he was recognised for this in 2023 when he was named Ocean Activist of the Year by the campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage.

"I never had in my wildest dreams I would be where I am today. I just came up with an idea to pedal with four legs back in 2020. After achieving that, it's just gone from strength to strength", said David.