Teenager back at school after circumnavigating North Pole

Benji Edwards with sailing team. Credit: Own image

Video report by ITV News Anglia's Helen Keenan

Ben Edwards is the youngest person to circumnavigate the North Pole anticlockwise in one season, but now he's back to the books.

The 14-year-old from Letchworth Garden City is back to school after returning from an all-round trip of the North Pole, beginning and ending in Bristol.

Benji and his team went up the coast of Norway, then across the northern coast of Russia through the north west passage, over to Greenland and then across the atlantic again.

Benji was part of a crew of 7 led by British explorer David Hempleman-Adams. They travelled 13,500 miles over 4 months. Their aim was to highlight the impact of global warming on polar sea ice.

Benji commanding the boat. Credit: Own image.

Benji was given special permission to come out of school for the expedition. He had to study for a few hours each day, often in tough conditions.

Now focusing on his GCSE's, he dreams of the nest big adventure in store for him.