Boy, 14, Crosses Atlantic Alone

Heather Perham, Michael’s mother, said that challenging moments on his journey had forced her son to grow up quickly. She said: “If there was a problem, he knew that he just had to get on with it and sort it out. He has proved that obviously he is mature enough to do that, and we are all incredibly proud of him.

“I did get quite scared when I found out he had to tie a rope around his waist and dive into the water to fix something, and when he was talking about sharks. But you cannot expect your kids not to go out. You don’t want them staying at home, fixed to the computer. They need to be out there, fulfilling their ambitions, otherwise life will pass them by. I just wish more kids had the opportunity to do these things.”

I'd like to see more stories about teenagers like this one!