WHILE the rest of us battened down the hatches in preparation for Storm Brian, a group of fearless kite surfers grabbed their boards and hit the waves.

The Worthing kite surfers leapt more than 20 metres (66ft) into the air as winds reached 50mph on Saturday.

British record holder Lewis Crathern came within touching distance of setting a new British record as he made the highest jump recorded in Sussex.

Lewis, 32, who almost lost his life in a previous kite surfing stunt, was fearless on the waves.

He said: “Worthing was going off on Saturday, it was really incredible to be out there. The waves were massive which provided the perfect launch ramps to have a go at the British record. I was so close to getting it and you go to bed wondering ‘could I have just raised the board that bit higher?’.

“In Worthing we are blessed with many advantages over other beaches. For example the beach faces a perfect direction for the strong westerly wind. High tide is the most special time to kite surf which is unusual on the South Coast. This is because there are no groynes or obstacles in the way.

“Combine that with the perfect place for people to watch in front of Sea Lane Cafe, there is nowhere in the world I would rather be kite surfing.”

Lewis first started making waves when he jumped over Worthing Pier and Brighton Palace Pier in 2009.

Fellow local kite surfer Jake Scrace, who joined Lewis in leaping Worthing Pier eight years ago, also made the most of the stormy conditions on Saturday.

Five time world champion Aaron Hadlow also took to the water with a number of enthusiastic local kite surfers as Storm Brian made landfall.

Just last year doctors were unsure if Lewis was going to survive after being placed in an induced coma following an accident competing in South Africa.

He plunged 20ft into the water, knocking himself unconscious. He began to drown and his lungs filled with water before he was pulled from the sea.

His mother, Sandra, feared the worst and flew from her Worthing home to be by his bedside, but he was back competing within months.