A kayaker has braved hallucinations to complete the “single hardest experience of his life” when he travelled for 48 hours down the Thames.

Robert Courtney, 31, from Hampton Wick completed the challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes charity last Sunday.

This was the third time Mr Courtney had raised money through kayaking and was inspired to fundraise for his charity after soldier Lee Rigby’s death last month.

Mr Courtney, carrier sales manager at Blackberry when not helping those in need, used a 4m pleasure kayak to paddle 131 miles and lost 3.5lb in preparation.

He said: “I found it the single hardest experience of my life. The lack of sleep made me have severe hallucinations.

“I was seeing people that were actually trees and kayaking through the night was a terrifying experience.”

The young philanthropist was alone and could not stop paddling throughout the two day trip.

To keep himself energised he consumed energy drinks and special energy gels designed for extreme sporting endeavours.

Mr Courtney is mostly recovered now, with the exception of an infected blister, and was grateful for father Andrew Courtney’s support through his journey.