‘Never say never’: The man who learnt to hug

A man is attempting the world record of hugging the most people within 60 seconds.

Arsenal Whittick, who was diagnosed with autism at 49-years-old, is an activist who is raising awareness for the disability.

He’s spent the past six years practicing hugging and working through the emotional impact it has on him.

Speaking to BUzz, he recalled a time where hugging felt foreign to him.

“In 2010, my daughter came home from school in tears, and she put her head on my shoulder for a hug, and I just stood there,” he said.

That night, Mr Whittick said, she went to bed thinking he never loved her.

He knew he wanted to change after that incident.

Mr Whittick’s biography, ‘A Boy called Arsenal’ by Alan J Hill, shows his struggles with undiagnosed autism and stammer.

He’s adapted and worked with charities like Autism Unlimited, making speech and language therapy videos, despite being diagnosed later in life.

Mr Whittick plans to hug at least 90 people in the Dolphin Centre in one minute on Sunday.

He is trying to complete the official world record.

The event will be recorded by the Dolphin Centre to then be looked at by Guinness World Record officials.

A total of 77 people have signed up to hug Mr Whittick so far and he’s encouraged more to sign up to make the record happen.

“If anyone’s available on Sunday, come on down and be part of the world record attempt.”

Since learning how to navigate life with his diagnosis, Mr Whittick has been going to St Ann’s Hospital in Poole to train the staff.

The event is set to happen at 1pm and people can sign up on Facebook.