Once they did, he strapped two huge floats on the sides of his Land Rover, added a motor and propeller on the back and sailed across the 56-mile stretch of water, pausing on the island of Little Diomede as the weather closed in, before continuing a few weeks later when conditions improved. He landed at 1a.m. local time on the beach of Wales, Alaska, on Friday 8th August, earning his place in history.

"It’s been a phenomenal trip," said Burgess. "I can’t say it was all enjoyable – I wouldn’t do it again – but it has been incredible. We were on ice roads virtually all the way from Moscow – thousands and thousands of miles – and could not believe how much traction we got from the Cooper tyres; they were phenomenal.

"Landing on Wales was brilliant. It was the culmination of nearly nine years work, and to be the first to get across was incredible. I’d watched other people before me try to do it – rich people, big companies, and I thought "how am I going to square up to these people?" But I showed them how it’s done!"