VIDEO: Larne’s gyro hero Norman Surplus returns home

There were cheers from his legion of fans as the 52-year-old bowel cancer survivor touched down safely, marking the culmination of an incredible five-year voyage, which was supposed to last just a few months.

Norman’s remarkable mission was plagued by bureaucratic wrangling, and the expedition had to be pushed back time and time again. The biggest problem Norman faced was from the Russian aviation authorities, who refused him permission to fly over their airspace.

But the plucky Larne man persevered with his quest, flying coast to coast across the USA and hopping his way across the north Atlantic via Greenland, Iceland the Faroe Islands and Scotland.

On Tuesday, August 11, Norman finally made it home to his wife Celia and his kids, Felix and Petra.

“It has been an epic journey and you could not have predicted how it would turn out,” Norman said.

“It is great to be back in Larne; better late than never.”

When asked to describe his adventure in one word, Norman said: “Awesome!”

He now plans to pen a book about his experience.